In a desperate attempt to find a solution to snakebite cases in Diviseema Island, the district authorities are allegedly eliminating “poisonous”snakes. In Koduru mandal alone, at least 23 “poisonous” snakes were killed since August 24, by a special team of snake-catchers deployed by the authorities to catch snakes from the island villages.
The team of catchers comprising Yanadi tribal men, has been apparently directed to kill the poisonous snakes.
“We have deployed three snake catchers, offering ₹600 per day per person to catch the snakes in the villages of Viswanadhapalli, Pittallanka and V. Kothapalem, which witnessed a huge number of snakebite cases in Koduru mandal. The team caught nearly 70 snakes and 23 of them have been killed on the spot since Friday, after they were found to be poisonous,” B. Venkateswara Reddy told The Hindu . Mr. Reddy is Mandal Parishad Development Officer for Koduru mandal and is monitoring the snake-catching exercise.
“The non-poisonous snakes are being released on the outskirts of the villages. All the 70 snakes have been sighted in agricultural fields. Several young locals have also voluntarily engaged themselves in catching the snakes in our mandal,” added Mr. Reddy.
On the other hand, the forest authorities are yet to swing into the action, to review which species of the snakes could be killed as per the existing wildlife Acts.
Yagam today
The Endowment Department is all set to perform ‘Sarpa Santhi Yagam’ at Lord Subramanya Swami temple at Mopidevi village on Wednesday, with an aim to please the snakes.
Subramanya Swami temple (Mopidevi) Executive Officer M. Sarada Kumari told The Hindu that 17 priests would perform the four-hour yagam “to please the snakes” in the wake of rising number of the snakebite cases in Diviseema Island.
“The yagam has been planned for Wednesday on the request from the locals in the wake of the snakebite cases”, Ms. Sarada Kumari added.
