Several political parties staged a protest in the Nilgiris district on Tuesday urging the State government to find a solution to the man-animal conflict.
Around 140 party cadre, including M. Thiravidamani, DMK MLA from Gudalur, assembled in front of the District Forest Office at Gudalur and staged a road roko, but the police removed them from the location.
The protesters were demanding a permanent solution to man-animal conflict and immediate steps to prevent loss of human lives due to animal attacks at Gudalur and Pandalir. They also sought an increase in compensation to Rs. 10 lakh from the present Rs. 3 lakh given in the case of fatality rising from animal attacks.
They urged the government to increase compensation given for crop damage. Further, the protesters demanded that the Forest Department remove exotic and foreign species of weeks from the reserve forest areas and the Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve as they were degrading the natural habitat of wild animals and driving them into human habitations.
The parties that took part in the protest include Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Congress, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Tamil Maanila Congress (M), Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (M), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
