Forest dept prepares to tackle jumbo menace in Chamarajanagar (Mysuru) S Ramesh, Times of India May 19, 2023 The forest department making preparations to deploy the Elephant Task Force (ETF) in areas affected by the elephant menace in Hanur, MM Hills and BRT Tiger Reserve areas in Chamarajanagar district. Various affected people and farmers in the region have demanded that the forest department initiate steps to relocate elephants that are invading farms. Incidents of jumbo menace reported from fringe villages of Dinnalli in Hanur sub division, Ponnachi, Hasturu, Ramegowdanahalli in MM Hills wildlife sanctuary. There have been complaints of elephants destroying banana, jowar and maize crops and even damaging houses in villages located on the forest fringes. The forest department had received 53 such complaints in both Cauvery, MM Hills Wildlife sanctuaries in the last one and half months. Honnur Prakash, district president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha said, "Though the state government has constituted ETF in four districts including Chamarajanagar, which has highest number of jumbos, to curb the jumbo menace, the task force is not working effectively. The government had 10-member teams equipped with vehicles, walki talkies and other tools to support the forest department staff. But the menace continued without any hassles, causing heavy losses to farmers." Deputy conservator of forests of Cauvery Wildlife Division Nandeesh told TOI that the department has successfully prevented jumbo menace by talking the help of the ETF deployed in Hanur, as well as putting up barricades in places where the menace was rampant. The department is now receiving complaints form places such as Kothanur and action will be taken, he added. He said he will inform senior officials to take steps to relocate some elephants, which was entering human habitats regularly. Chief conservator of forests Malathipriaya told TOI that the department will take all possible steps to curb the jumbo menace in Ponnachi in MM Hills sanctuary and Kothanur in Cauvery wildlife sanctuary by strengthening the ETF as well as initiating steps to relocate rogue elephants that were destroying crops and causing damages to life and property after taking necessary permission. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/forest-dept-prepares-to-tackle-jumbo-menace-in-chamarajanagar/articleshow/100345177.cms