Financial crunch is hampering Karnataka Forest department to take up works to curb elephant menace, State Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar today lamented.
Addressing a press conference here, he said, "the department has been allocated only Rs 250 crore in the budget which is insufficient. Hence I am appealing to Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda for higher allocation in the budget for 2012-13".
He said the elephant corridor project is also suffering due to want of money, among other things, since the land meant for it have been encroached and needs to be got vacated by paying compensation.
Mr Yogeshwar said experts' meeting would be held on January 21 to draft a consolidated plan to end elephant menace and for development of forest coverage.
Minister for Child Social Welfare Narayanaswamy, who was also present, said, a review of rehabilitation of tribals living in the forest has been taken up earlier in the day and the officials have assured to complete the implementation within next two months."
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