Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav will hold meetings on Thursday, 22 February, in connection with the man-animal conflicts in Wayanad.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav with the family of Ajeesh on Wednesday, 21 February. Ajeesh was trampled to death by a wild elephant identified as Belur makhana on 10 February. (X)
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday, 21 February, visited the families of the three men who died in animal attacks here and assured them of all possible help to put their lives back on track.
The Union Minister, who arrived here in the evening, met the families of the three men — Prajeesh, Paul and Ajeesh — who lost their lives in animal attacks in the district in the last couple of months.
While Ajeesh and Paul were trampled to death by two different wild elephants this month, Prajeesh was killed by a tiger in December 2023.
The Union minister, who will hold meetings on Thursday, 22 February, in connection with the man-animal conflicts in the district, posted a message on social media platform X about his visit to the homes of the victims’ families.
He said that the central government will ensure full support to the families to get their lives back on track.
The Union Minister also asked members of the BJP state unit to extend all possible help to the people of the region to ensure “a harmonious man-animal coexistence”.
“Met the families of Prajeesh, Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in the man-animal conflict in Wayanad recently. Their loss is irreparable. Assured them the government, led by PM Shri @narendramodiji, stands with the families in their hour of grief.
“We will ensure full support to get their lives back on track. I pray the departed souls rest in eternal peace. Also asked members of @BJP4Keralam to extend all possible help to the people in the region to ensure a harmonious man-animal coexistence,” Yadav said on X.
A state ministerial delegation, which visited here on Tuesday on the directions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, discussed the remedial proposals and took decisions during a meeting attended by the local people’s representatives and officials.
Prior to that, Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had visited the family members of those who were killed in animal attacks.
Earlier in New Delhi, Yadav accused the Kerala government and local representatives of “ignoring” the escalating man-animal conflict in Wayanad district, and said he himself will review the situation and meet the affected people.
Wayanad is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
“On my way to Wayanad with a team of experts from @MOEFCC and @wii_india to review the man-animal conflict situation in the region. We stand by the families that have lost their loved ones. Will ensure relief reaches them at the earliest,” Yadav posted on X.
After reviewing recent incidents of man-animal conflict at Pulpally in Wayanad district with senior ministry officials in Delhi, Yadav had said on Tuesday that the Centre remains committed to doing everything it takes to protect human lives and maintain ecological balance.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Yadav said: “The state government and MPs should be working on the issue. The central government has been releasing funds, advisories (to address man-animal conflicts). We believe that while we should be sympathetic towards animals, we should be vigilantly using technology (to prevent such incidents). The Centre has repeatedly emphasised this in its advisories to states.”
“We have given them (state authorities) radio collars for elephants. I will review the situation to ascertain if there are any shortcomings in the vigilance/administrative areas. I will also meet (the families of) victims and review the status of compensation from the Centre,” he said.
The elephant that killed Ajeesh was radio-collared in Karnataka. It unexpectedly charged into the compound of a house and killed the42-year-old man.
The BJP’s Kerala unit has raised concerns about wild animals damaging crops and causing harm to life and property. The party has accused Gandhi of neglecting such occurrences.
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
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