Jumbo ‘walk’: Forest dept rejects MLC’s proposal

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Forest Department has rejected the proposal made by BJP MLC A.H.Vishwanath to bring the Dasara jumbos to Mysuru by making them walk from Hunsur for their participation in the Mysuru Dasara-2023 which starts from October 16.

At the meeting held under the chairmanship of Social Welfare and DistrictIn-Charge Minister Dr H.C.Mahadevappa regarding the Dasara celebrations, Vishwanath gave the idea which he has been advocating for the last many years.

According to him, the real meaning of ‘Gaja Payana ‘ is to bring the Dasara jumbos from Veeranahosalli in Hunsur taluk to Mysuru by making them to walk 40 plus km.

But the forest department is worried about the safety of the pachyderms as well as people as it is a national highway with thousands of vehicles passing through this stretch of the highway.

Forest department officials feel that the honking by vehicle drivers, stopping vehicles on the highway to take selfies and going near them to feed them would endanger the lives of people.

When this proposal was put forth, local forest officials vehemently opposed it. So the meeting resolved to bring the first batch of eight elephants from Veeranahosalli in trucks after a puja by the minister and other elected representatives on September 1.

A few years ago, somebody had suggested that the Dasara jumbos be kept at the century old Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Park in Mysuru for display.

Even that idea was struck down on the ground that these elephants were more used to the forests.