A lorry driver from Karnataka, who was found feeding sugarcane to wild elephants on the forest stretch of Mysuru - Dindigul National Highway 948 at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), was imposed a fine of ₹75,000 on Saturday.
Devendra Kumar Meena, District Forest Officer, Hasanur Division, along with S. Sivakumar, Forest Range Officer, Hasanur Division, and personnel were moving on the stretch of Karapallam check post to Hasanur when they found a sugarcane-laden lorry with Karnataka registration number parked along the road. They found the driver, identified as S. Sithuraj of Nanjangud, throwing sugarcane to the elephants. The lorry was taken to the office and a case was registered for violation. Based on the directions of the DFO, the driver was levied fine and the money was collected.
Mr. Sivakumar told The Hindu that elephants frequently cross the highway and lorry drivers were instructed to not stop their vehicles in the forest stretch or feed the wild animals. He added that over 30 sugarcane-laden lorries are moving from Chamarajanagar to Sathyamangalam in the last two weeks and wild elephants wait along the road to drag sugarcane from the lorries.
