Karnataka forest dept purchases SUVs to cater to villages bordering MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

(Express photo by Aksheev Thakur)

V Yedukondalu, deputy conservator of forest of MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, told The Indian Express, “I have been serving this area for quite some time. So I am familiar with the problems the villagers face due to lack of basic infrastructure. A pregnant woman is carried on shoulders since there is no ambulance facility and students have to walk long distances due to unavailability of transport services. We have finalised the routes. So I wrote to deputy commissioner of Chamarajanagar, Charulatha Somal, who agreed to provide us with the vehicles.”

(Express photo by Aksheev Thakur)

The six-seater multi-purpose vehicles will be maintained by the forest department. They will act as ambulance, school bus, ration vehicle and conveyance vehicle for remote enclosure villages.

However, laying of asphalted roads within the forest areas is not permitted.

He said that during emergency situations the villagers will not be charged for conveyance, while there is a nominal charge for usual travel. “No fare will be charged if somebody wants to go to hospital or school. But a small sum will be charged from those going to markets to buy groceries or other purposes,” the officer said.

(Express photo by Aksheev Thakur)

However, if the demand arises the forest department will plan to procure more vehicles.

Yedukondalu pointed out that the move would reduce man-animal conflicts since there have been incidents of villagers being attacked by wild animals when they were walking for routine work.