He also addressed the need for inter-state cooperation to effectively address the issue of wild animal attacks in the district.
Published Feb 18, 2024 | 2:37 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 18, 2024 | 2:38 PM
File photo of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad. (INCIndia/ X)
Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, 18 February, urged the Kerala government to immediately set up the required warning system to check the damages caused by the human-animal conflict in the hilly district.
“We also suggested looking into and setting up and testing an early warning system. They told us that there is a rapid response team but it is quite clear that one team is not enough. So, we have mentioned to them that they should increase the number of teams and supply the teams with everything necessary,” he said.
He was addressing a press conference after meeting the Wayanad district administration officials.
The Congress leader, highlighting the rising number of man-animal conflict incidents said that he had visited the family members of the people who lost their lives recently.
“We have been facing these tragedies that come out of man-animal conflict for some time. But over the last few days, there were a number of incidents. So, I cut down my Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to come here to speak to the family members of the people who lost their lives to condole with them and also to speak with the administration here,” he said.
He said that he urged the administration to pay the compensation quickly and effectively and not delay the compensation for the attacks that had been happening over the last couple of months.
He also addressed the need for interstate cooperation between Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to effectively address the issue of wild animal attacks in the district and nearby regions.
“There is a question of inter-state cooperation between Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We mentioned to them (district administration) that we will also play a role in improving the coordination. But it is important that the three states coordinate with each other as far as this issue is concerned,” Gandhi said.
In the last few days, there have been a large number of tragedies that are coming out of man-animal conflict. I came to Wayanad to speak to the families who have lost their loved ones.
The administration must pay the compensation quickly and effectively.
We also suggested to… pic.twitter.com/7ZkGst9Rli
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 18, 2024
The Wayanad MP also highlighted the lack of a proper medical college in the district and added that he wrote to the chief minister regarding the same.
“Finally, the medical college, which is a critical issue and I mentioned to the administration today (Sunday) that I don’t understand why it is taking such a long time to develop and build a medical college here. It is not such a complicated thing to do. And it’s a tragedy that even after people are losing their lives and getting injured, there is not a medical college here,” he said.
“I have written to the chief minister and requested him to please expedite this matter. It is almost become a joke now,” he added.
Gandhi also urged the state government to bear the medical expenses of the victims of the man-animal conflict in the district.
“It is important to think that the government bear the expense of the people who have been injured,” he said,
