JD (S) leader MC Nanaiah whipped forest minister CP Yogeshwar when the latter tried to evade a question on human-animal conflict in Kodagu district by giving a negligent answer in the legislative council meet on Monday.
Nanaiah was trying to get the attention of the minister on the human as well as material losses in Kodagu district as a result of prolonged conflicts. Instead of giving a comprehensive reply, Yogeshwar simply read out a two-page answer prepared by forest officers. This angered Nanaiah who attacked Yogeshwar with a barrage of questions.
He questioned the common sense of the officers who say farmers grow jackfruit which attract elephants. He said no one grows jackfruit in the region. Coffee and paddy are cultivated since a very long time and the menace of elephants started only six years ago.
“Of 279 villages in the district, 201 are affected by elephants and this shows how severe the issue is,” he said.
Referring to the answer prepared by forest officers which mentioned that there had been a competition between cattle and elephants for food, Nanaiah said he would move breach of privilege against the officers for furnishing ridiculous facts before the house. Taking severe objection to the answer read out by Yogeshwar, Nanaiah wondered whether cows and buffalos would ever be able to compete with elephants.
Yogeshwar was also pushed to the corner by his own party leaders, including youth service and sports minister MP Appachu Ranjan and MLCs G Madhusudhan and Doddarange Gowda.
To rub salt into Yogeshwar’s wound, Congress MLC RV Venkatesh observed that a forest official slept in the house, even as the heated debate was going on. “Let the officers continue their good work,” Nanaiah remarked in a lighter vein.
Yogeshwar expressed his helplessness as the department’s efforts to contain the menace have failed and assured that he will take necessary action.
