Madikeri: Two days after a wild tusker was rescued in Kodagu, another tusker about 35 years of age was rescued in Kannangala village near Ammathi, inside a coffee plantation, on Friday. The tusker was tranquilised and rescued in the afternoon, the foresters stated. The forest officials said that the jumbo will be shifted to an elephant camp after discussions.The govt had permitted the rescue of three elephants that had attacked and killed labourers. The first jumbo was rescued on Wednesday. The elephant rescued on Wednesday has been kept under observation at Dubare elephant camp. Forest department has appointed skilled and experienced mahouts to take tame it even as it has restricted public access to the area. The jumbo, which was rescued after it killed a labourer at Yadur village, Kannangala under Virajpet forest range, has been under the observation at a kraal, since Thursday.Meanwhile, Virajpet MLA and chief minister’s political secretary AS Ponnanna raised the issue of Kasturirangan report under Rule 69 during the assembly session and urged govt to relieve the anxiety of the people of the Western Ghats, and protect the interests of farmers and locals. Responding to him, forest minister Ramalinga Reddy told the assembly that state govt has rejected the Kasturirangan report. Reddy said that the report is likely to affect 39 taluks in 10 districts. He clarified that there is currently a 60-day period to file objections to the draft notification of the Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas and that the state will recommend the Union govt to reject the report.Ponnanna told reporters that the draft notification issued by the Union forest ministry on July 26, has caused anxiety among the people of Malnad and the Western Ghats. Meanwhile, in the wake of the draft notification of the Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar said that he is in constant touch with the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change to protect the rights, livelihoods and properties of the people of Mysuru and Kodagu districts.Every legitimate concern, objection and fact raised by the locals across the district is being systematically recorded and brought to the notice of the Union ministry. “Our priority is to ensure that both environmental protection and people’s welfare go hand in hand,” he stated.
