Need more vigil in forests on Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border

Initiated by the Chamarajanagar district police and held at MM Hills recently, the meeting involved officials from the Police and Forest Department from both states. 

The districts in south Karnataka, which border either Tamil Nadu or Kerala include Chamarajanagar, Mysuru and Kodagu. 

Kuldeep Kumar Jain, Chamarajanagar SP, called for greater cooperation between the police and the Forest departments, and pointed out that inter-state border forest areas may be attractive for left-wing extremists to spread their operation by recruiting people, and therefore cautioned the need for additional vigil and security in this area. 

Ramesh Kumar, DCF, Cauvery wildlife sanctuary and Malathi Priya, DCF, MM Hill’s wildlife sanctuary made a joint presentation about the forest and forest-related issues of Chamarajnagar Forest circle, and stressed the need for greater coordination with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. Malathi said that the border area enabled poachers to cross into Karnataka for poaching and escape to Tamil Nadu.

In view of the 150 km forest bordering the two states, Karnataka officials urged their counterparts from Tamil Nadu to include the forest areas in Tamil Nadu under Cauvery north wildlife sanctuary. 

Once these areas are declared wildlife sanctuary, protection activities by way of anti-poaching camps supported by foot and vehicle patrolling will increase, said Karnataka officials.