Fund released for local bodies in Krishnagiri district

The State Government has released a grant of Rs. 7.95 crore to the local bodies in the district during August, said a release from District Collector T.P. Rajesh here recently.

The release said that the grants were Rs. 2,62,54,428 for 10 panchayat unions and Rs. 5,33,04,444 for 333 village panchyats for the first and second quarter for the year 2012-2013 under the Pooled Revenue Subsidy scheme.

Arrears

The village panchayats should spend the amount for disbursing salary and arrears to the employees, remit library tax, pay premium for group insurance for panchayat employees and improve basic amenities.

Village panchayats and panchayat unions were asked to give priority to create drinking water facilities in their jurisdiction.

Declare Krishnagiri District as drought-hit agri zone :Farmers

Tamil Nadu Vivavasyigal Sangam affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday staged demonstrations in the district demanding that the Government declare Krishnagiri as drought-hit. The demonstrations were held in Krishnagiri, Uthangarai, Pochampalli, and Denkanikottai.

Those who spoke said that because of the failure of monsoon, the groundwater level has depleted considerably. Inadequate power supply too had affected the farmers, they said.

 

They said adequate compensation should be provided for withered coconut and mango trees, crop loans obtained from cooperative institutions should be waived, supply of essential commodities through PDS shops should be ensured, power connection should be given immediately for those in the agriculture sector, prompt action should be taken against corrupt officials, remunerative prices for agriculture produce should be announced, and permanent marketing facilities for agriculture produce should be established.

In Krishnagiri, the demonstration was held near the Five Road Junction. K.C. Ramasamy, taluk president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam; X. Irudayaraj, district secretary; G.K. Nanjundan, taluk secretary, CPI(M); and R. Shankar, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers’ Association; spoke.

In Uthangarai, the demonstration was held in front of the taluk office. A. Annamalai, district vice-president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam; V. Govindasamy, district coordiinator, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Labourers’ Association; S.R. Jayaraman, district secretariat member, CPI(M); spoke.

In Pochampallli, the demonstration was held near roundtana. C. Chinnaraj, taluk president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam; M. Dharman, district president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam; S.P. Chinnasamy, taluk secretary, CPI(M); spoke.

In Denkanikottai, the demonstration was held in front of the taluk office. V. Samraj, taluk president of the association; Y. Ellappa, district joint secretary; and R. Sekar, taluk secretary, CPI(M); spoke.

distributing free home appliances 13 villages in Thally and Veppanahalli constituencies

For a better life:Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P. Munusamy (right) distributing free home appliances to a beneficiary at Periya Madhagondapalli in Thalli Panchayat Union on Saturday.-Photo: Special Arrangement

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is implementing all her election promises over the past twenty months to reduce the gap between the rich and poor in the State, said K.P. Munusamy, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development here on Saturday.

He was distributing home appliances costing Rs. 1.98 crore to 3,969 beneficiaries hailing from 13 villages in Thally and Veppanahalli constituencies.

The government was allotting Rs. 4,900 crore for distribution of free home appliances to ration card holders. A sum of Rs. 3,250 crore had been spent for distribution of home appliances over the last two years.

The home appliances were being distributed to the beneficiaries without any political intervention in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Minister, hence, the appliances had reached eligible card holders.

Besides this, the government was also allocating Rs. 1,080 crore per year for construction of green houses for poor people, each at a cost of Rs. 1.80 lakh with provision for solar energy.

The Government was spending Rs. 13,750 for laptops and Rs. 6,000 for three years as incentive for improving educational standards of the students in the State.

Hence, it is for the students to study well and take the district and especially the educationally backward areas such as Thally and Denkanikottai forward. They should strive hard to pursue higher education.

The opportunities for pursuing higher studies were being provided by the government by establishing an engineering college, polytechnics and arts colleges.

Students should make use of these facilities and come up in life, he said.

Collector T.P. Rajesh presided over the function. District Revenue Officer C. Prakasam, District Panchayat Chairman K. Ashok Kumar, and Krishnagiri Revenue Divisional Officer P. Manoharan participated in the function.

Girl falls to death in school septic tank

Four-year-old LKG girl V. Malathi had a gory end dro­wning in her school septic tank that had been carelessly left uncovered at Utha­ng­a­rai, about 75 km from here,

According to the police, Malathi was returning to her class after visiting the toilet when she slipped and fell into the open septic tank in Christ Matric­ula­ti­on Sc­h­o­ol. Her teacher found her missing for a lo­ng time and alerted the others, following which a sear­ch was laun­ch­ed. It was th­en that Mala­t­hi’s brother Pra­veen, a UKG student, told the staff that he saw her fall into the septic tank. Teac­hers and others ran to the tank and found the girl in it, but their attempts to rescue her fai­led, police said.

The death of the child due to such criminal negligence on the part of the school management, which appears to be flourishing since inception in 1991, has angered the parents and the public. The tragedy has jolted the government as well. In Chennai, school education secretary Ms D Sabitha told DC that she had sought a detailed report on the incident from the district chief education officer. “This is tragic, very sad. We have sent several circulars to all the schools detailing guidelines for the safety and security of the students, yet such mishaps are happening”, she said. 

Teachers said the school called fire service and informed the police after the girl was found. Firemen recovered the dead body of Malathi from the septic tank. Krishnagiri district revenue officer C Pragasam visited the school and after conducing enquiry, held the school authorities guilty of dangerous negligence in le­av­ing the septic tank op­en. The school has about 1100 students up to 12th class.  

Based on the DRO’s preliminary findings, police arrested school’s correspondent Stephen Das, his sister and principal Mercy and her husband K.Prabaka­r­an, the administrative officer. School warden R. Ram­esh was also arrested. All the four were produced before Uthangarai magistrate who remanded them to 15 days custody, police said.

Clash at bull race in Kattinayanapalli.

Police have registered cases against seven persons in connection with a clash that erupted during a bull race held at Kattinayanapalli and Boganapalli near Krishnagiri on Wednesday.

Police have registered a case under the 294 C (singing obscene songs), 323 (voluntary hurt), 324 (attack with weapons) read with SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) 3(1) 3(X) Act against V. Kamaraj (31) and M. Silambarasan for beating M. Chinnathambi (21) of Boganapalli village near Krishnagiri during the bull race in Kattinayanapalli.

Chinnathambi, sustained head injuries and was admitted at the Government Headquarters Hospital in Krishnagiri.

In retaliation, five youths entered Boganapalli on Wednesday night and attacked B. Rajeshkumar (35). He was admitted to the Krishnagiri GH for treatment.

Police registered a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC and arrested A. Anbarasu (24) and R. Sakthivel (24). .

Police have registered cases against 15 persons for conducting bull race without obtaining permission from the authorities in Basthalapalli and Thirumalaigoundanur villages.

Girl beaten to death by her father

G. Priya (16), Plus One student of Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Krishnagiri, was allegedly beaten to death by her father, Govindaraj (35), on Tuesday.

According to police, the girl’s body was found hanging in her house in Eppalam area near Shoolagiri on Tuesday. During inquiry, the girl’s father Govindaraj confessed to the police that he had beaten her to death on Tuesday.

Later, he hanged her from a rope to make it look like a case of suicide.

Case registered

Sources said that the girl wanted to visit her grandparents for Pongal festival, which was declined by Govindaraj. In a fit of rage, he had hit Priya, in which she collapsed and died.

Police recovered the body and sent it to Government Taluk Hospital in Hosur for post Morten.

Shoolagiri police have registered a case.

Judicial custody

Govindaraj was arrested and remanded in judicial custody , sources said.

People gathered tourist spots for Kaanum Pongal

Large number of people from different parts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts thronged tourist spots like Hogenakkal, Avadanapatti Lake and KRP dam to celebrate ‘Kaanum pongal’ on Wednesday.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operated special buses to Hogenakkal from Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Hosur and other important points. The police had stepped up elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, the bull race was held in about 23 places in Krishnagiri district including Kaveripattinam, Kittampatti, Shoolagiri and other areas on Wednesday.

Kalai Pongal

Meanwhile, ‘Kalai Pongal’ was organised by the Department of Tourism and Culture at the KRP Dam .

Collector T.P. Rajesh inaugurated the celebrations in the presence of District Revenue Officer C. Prakasam with religious fervour.

The programme started with Mangala Vaadiyam by the students of District Music School. Mr. Rajesh distributed sweet pongal to the tourists. As part of the celebrations Kavadiattam, Pambai, Silambattam, and Bharata Natyam were performed.

Students of Government Music School, peoples’ representatives participated in large numbers. Revenue Divisional Officer P. Manoharan, Krishnagiri Tahsildhar S. Maheshwaran among others participated.

BJP stages protest for brutal killings of two Indian soldiers at the borders

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the recent brutal killings of two Indian soldiers at the borders by the Pakistan Army here on Wednesday. 

Over 150 members of the party staged a demonstration near the five-road junction in Krishnagiri, protesting against the killings, which it termed as barbaric. 

BJP leaders who spoke at the demonstrations urged the government to gather all evidences including the identity of Pakistani Army officials and groups responsible for the brutal act, and place them before the international community to expose Pakistan’s misdeeds. 

The attack was a warning to the nation in dealing with Pakistan, as it is important for the government to clearly define the red lines. The Indian government should be very firm and cautious in dealing with its hostile neighbour, they said. 

G. Balakrishnan, National Executive Committee Member, Munavar Begum, State vice president, BJP Mahila Wing, Mr. Narendran, State Vice President spoke at the demonstration. Mr. Kotteeswaran, district president presided.

Man trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants

A 64-year-old man was trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants inside the Denkanikottai Reserve Forests in Krishnagiri district on Monday.

According to forest officials, P. Periya Lakshmiah (64) was trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants when he was about to return with the cattle he had taken for grazing inside the Reserve Forests in Lakkasandiram village on Sunday evening.

When he did not return home, people launched a manhunt immediately. His body was found inside the Reserve Forests on Monday morning by villagers.

Immediately, the forest and police officials were informed.

The forest officials recovered the body and sent it to the Government Taluk Hospital in Hosur for post-mortem.

A. K. Ulaganathan, District Forest Officer told The-Hindu on Tuesday that in spite of warnings issued to the public not to allow aged people to take cattle for grazing inside the Reserve Forest, as over hundred animals have been wandering there for the past three months, the menace continues, making it the main cause for human deaths.

Few days ago, a man was trampled to death by a group of elephants. Due to this, a strong anti-depredation team, formed by the Forest Department, is touring the villages in the vicinity of the Reserve Forests, advising the people not to enter into the Reserve Forests for cattle-grazing, through public address systems.

In the mean time, a cheque of Rs. 25,000 was handed over to the next to the kin of the deceased, L. Thimmakka, daughter of Lakshmiah.

The balance amount of compensation would be distributed to the victim’s daughter after getting the approval of the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, a group of 45 wild elephants came out of the forests in Royakottai Reserve Forests and were herded into the Sanamavu Reserve Forests on Monday by the forest officials, with the help of the local villagers and policemen.

The herd would be herded into the Udedurgam Reserve Forest on Tuesday night, Mr. Ulaganathan adds.

Despite orders, witness Jallikattu

Despite strict orders by the district collector and the police, with regard to conduct of bull race (jallikkattu), it was held in several places in Krishnagiri district in the name of bull race, sources said. 

Horns of bulls were sharpened and painted and also decorated with colour papers with bamboo sticks costs ranging from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 10,000 by the villagers to mark the ``Maattu Pongal’’ in different parts of the district. 

An official from the intelligence wing told The Hindu that despite strict orders issued by the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police regarding conduct of Bull Race(Jallikkattu), it was blatantly violated in many parts. 

Prelude to Pongal, a man was killed by a bull in the bull race conducted in Ittikkal Agaram village on December 25, 2012, a case had been registered under sections 289 of IPC read with section 7 of the Tamilnadu Regulation of Jallikkattu Act, 2009. 

To avoid these kinds of untoward incidents, the district collector issued a warning through a release recently.

In his release, T.P. Rajesh, Collector warns the public not to conduct Jallikkattu/Bull race without prior permission, if violated action would be initiated against the organizers under the Tamilnadu Regulation of Jallikkattu At, 2009. 

Bull race was held in Kittampatti, Ammaneri, Pethampatti, Avadhanapatti, Pothinayanapalli, Chinnamelpatti, Papparapatti, Anchetti and Thirumalaikanikottai and other areas in the district with or without prior permission. 

Sources said that bull race was organised in several places on Wednesday and Thursday across the district.

abandoned newborn Twins were found near a roadside bush nearHosur

Non-identical twins – male and female – were rescued near a roadside bush close to a petrol station in Perandapalli on the Hosur-Krishnagiri National Highways on Sunday.

The newborns were noticed by members of the public, who informed the 108 ambulance service of Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI).

Admitted

The two newborns were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Government Hospital, Hosur. Their health condition has been reported to be normal.

Dr. M.K. Ponnuraj, Chief Medical Officer of the hospital told The Hindu that the girl weighed about 1.75 kg and the boy weighed about 2.23 kg.

Intensive care

Since the newborns were found near a roadside bush, it was advisable to keep them at the Intensive Care Unit for four or five days to ensure that they have not suffered any ill effects, it was pointed out.

The twins are likely to be shifted later to the Government Cradle Baby Home at Dharmapuri.

Parents

Police have been asked to identify the parents of the newborns, Dr. Ponnuraj said.

SIPCOT Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Drive against sound pollution caused by air horns in buses

Measuring sound output:S. Dhanapal (left), Senior Scientist, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, measuring the sound pollution caused by air-horns with the help of a `’Sound Meter’ at the New Bus Stand along with the motor vehicle inspectors attached to the Office of the Regional Transport Office, Krishnagiri on Friday.

Officials of the Regional Transport Offices in Krishnagiri and Hosur have intensified the checking of air horns in private and government-owned TNSTC buses that are causing sound pollution in the district, said P. Suresh, Regional Transport Officer.

He told The Hindu that the Motor Vehicle Inspectors attached to the respective RTO offices had been directed to check sound pollution which affects the public in the bus stand and other places where large numbers of vehicles are plying.

The surprise crackdown on violating vehicles is conducted at regular intervals at important points, following the directions of the Transport Commissioner along with the officials of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPSC).

The air horns fitted in heavy and light vehicles should not produce sound above 91 decibels, said S. Dhanapal, Senior Scientist, TNPSC. The sound level of the air horns is measured by the authorities with the help of the hand-held ‘Sound Level Meter’.

Notices were issued to the violating vehicles and the list of violating vehicles would be sent to the District Collector for fixing the fine.

In case of other State vehicles, a spot fine of Rs. 1,000 would be collected from the driver of the vehicle.

If the violating vehicle belonged to other districts, the check reports would be sent to the Collectors concerned through the RTOs for fixing the fine, the officials said.

The cone-type air horns would be removed by the authorities besides damaging the horn lever near the steering of the buses. This would be done to prevent repetition of violation by the same vehicle.

RTO authorities said that as many as 346 buses and heavy vehicles were issued notices for violating sound pollution norms by using air horns. Of these, 90 are government vehicles under the jurisdiction of Krishnagiri and Hosur RTO offices. This year about 103 vehicles including 39 government vehicles were issued notices.

As part of the Road Safety Week conducted during the first week of January (1 to 7) several programmes including awareness rally on road safety, eye camps for lorry drivers, oratorical competitions for school and college students, and first aid camps through live demonstration to the Home Guards at the Krishnagiri RTO offices were held. As part of the Road Safety Week, twenty-one drivers from the TNSTC were given awards by District Collector T.P. Rajesh at the valedictory functions held at a private school in Krishnagiri on January 7.

The students participated in the oratorical competitions were also given prizes by the Collector, an official said.

Unauthorised roadside eateries warned

Eateries functioning in the district should obtain a proper licence from the authorities concerned as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a release from the Collector said.

The release issued here on Wednesday said that the Act came into effect throughout the country from August 5, 2011 after the Government repealed the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act 1954 and seven other Acts that were in force. The new Act makes licensing and registration of food businesses mandatory. The District Designated Officer has been given powers to check food product standards, packaging, labelling and adulteration in restaurants, eateries, small hotels, bakeries, tea stalls and all small and cottage industries.

Unhygienic food

Mushrooming of unlicensed shops and roadside eateries near New Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand, Market Street and Londonpet, and selling chicken, meat and fast food items on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Krishnagiri and Hosur towns and others parts of the district have become a cause for concern as people throng these eateries and consume unhygienic food.

Though they offer taste, use of non-permitted colours, reuse of cooking oil, poor quality of drinking water, unclean plates and food items kept in the open and exposed to dust pose serious health hazard to the consumers. Such conditions remain unchecked.

It was also said that dead chicken from poultry units were used by a few shops and offered at low price in many eateries.

A few eateries mushroom in the evening and run till late night near drains where mosquitoes breed and spread diseases.

Contaminated water

These eateries procure contaminated tap water and serve this to their customers. Though doctors warn people to keep away from these tempting food items that cause serious problems, people continue to consume these foods.

The District Designated Office for the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department is functioning on PWD campus on the Old Bengaluru Road in Krishnagiri.

Roadside eateries, bakeries, milk vendors, provision stores, hotels, bakeries, roadside shops, canteens functioning inside the educational institutions should obtain the licence from the authorities. If violated, action would be initiated as per the Act.

If they functioned without licence a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh would be imposed and for violation of the Act a fine of up to Rs. 2 lakh and imprisonment up to six months would be imposed, the release said.

32 elephants chased into forests near Krishnagiri

The elephant herd that was driven back to Udedurgam Reserve Forests

A herd of 32 wild elephants that entered a mango orchard near Kelamangalam were driven back to the Udedurgam Reserve Forests by the forest officials after a four-hour exercise, on Tuesday night.

Sources in the Forest Department told The Hindu that over a hundred elephants, in different groups, had entered into the forest from Bennarghatta RF via the Jawalagiri RF two months ago.

This despite elephant proof trenches being dug for a distance of about 89 km.

Damaged trenches

However, these trenches were breached by the farmers who wanted to take their cattle inside the forest for fodder. These damaged trenches helped the elephants enter into human habitations as well.

The elephants damaged crops like sugarcane, banana, ragi, paddy as well as vegetables in and around Denkanikottai, Royakottai, Uthanapalli, Kelamangalam and Anchetty.

When people saw the herd of 32 elephants wandering near Nilagiri village in Uthanapalli they informed the forest officials.

On instructions from the District Forest Officer A.K. Ulaganathan, a team of forest officials and employees headed by Assistant Conservator of Forests Mr. Soundararajan and Royakottai Ranger Vinobaji chased the herd into the Udedurgam Reserve Forests bursting crackers and using powerful search lights.

Police officials headed by the Assistant Superintendent of Police Vijaykumar prevented the locals from getting near the herd during the operations, sources said.

While crossing over to the Reserve Forests, the herd trampled to death a calf near Yupuram.

Before undertaking the elephant eviction drive, the forest officials warned the public not to venture out of their homes through the public address system, the sources added.

Distribution of Pongal gift pack launched

District Collector T.P. Rajesh (second left) inaugurating the distribution of Pongal gift pack at a PDS shop in Sapparam village, near Kaveripattinam, in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday.

As many as 4.41 lakh ration card holders in the district will benefit from the Pongal gift consisting of one kg raw rice, sugar and Rs. 100 for buying other items to celebrate Pongal festival as announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and was inaugurated at a shop near Kodanad in Nilgiris district on Wednesday.

T.P. Rajesh, District Collector, inaugurated the scheme at a PDS shop at Sapparam village in Kaveripattinam Panchayat Union in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday evening.

While distributing the gifts to the beneficiaries, Mr. Rajesh said that Rs. 4.40 crore cash was also to be distributed to all the beneficiaries before Pongal festival.

The Pongal gift pack would be distributed in all the working days even on Sunday.

The Collector appealed the people to cooperate with the administration for the smooth distribution of the gift pack. The inaugural function was attended by C. Prakasam, District Revenue Officer, K.E. Krishnamoorthy, Bargur MLA, K. Ashok Kumar, Chairman, District Panchayat, P. Mannoharan, Revenue Divisional Officer, and Anandakrishnan, District Supply Officer. Sundarajan, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (PDS), welcomed the gathering and Viswanathan, Secretary, Sapparam Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society, proposed a vote of thanks.

Youth gets life term proson for rape, murder of college girl

A youth who raped and murdered a college girl was awarded life imprisonment by a court in Krishnagiri on Monday. 

S. Govindan (23) of Pazhaiyur village near Chennappanaickanur in Krishnagiri district was also facing charges of rape and murder of a minor girl and attempt to kill a schoolteacher on different occasions, police sources said.

On December 28, 2011, Govindan attempted to murder a schoolteacher in Uthangarai. The victim raised an alarm drawing the attention of some passers-by who nabbed the youth and handed him over to the local police. Interrogation revealed that Govindan was involved in the rape and murder of a college girl at Uthangarai on January 21, 2011. 

The teenager who did not return home from college was found dead with a severe head injury and a post-mortem revealed that she was sexually assaulted. He was also accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl at Peelamedu in Coimbatore district, the sources said. 

After obtaining conditional bail, Govindan made an attempt on the life of the schoolteacher. He was then detained under the Goondas Act. In the case pertaining to the rape and murder of the college girl, the Additional Sessions Court in Krishnagiri sentenced the accused to life imprisonment. He was also slapped with a ten year Rigorous Imprisonment for rape and a penalty of Rs. 2,500. 

“The modus operandi of the accused was to immobilise his victim by causing a severe head injury. 

He would then rape them. Before escaping he would drop a big stone on the victim’s head to ensure death. 

In the first case he was released on bail because the charge sheet was not filed within the stipulated time. In the second case, he was given bail on the ground that the charge sheet was filed and investigation was over,” a senior police official added.

Over 1,000 wild animals rescued in 2012

As many as 1,238 wild animals that strayed into human habitations last year were safely left deep inside the reserve forests in Hosur Forest Division, said District Forest Officer A.K. Ulaganathan.

He told The Hindu that the animals were rescued either by the forest officials or by the villagers. The rescued animals include 277 pythons, 21 cobras, 32 rattle snakes, 26 russell vipers, 849 monkeys, 11 spotted deers, 12 wild boars, five pangolins and five peacocks. A spotted deer was rescued by the forest officials from a well in Seelapalli Village near Samathuvapuram on the Veppanahalli Road.

The animal was later left into the Thogarapalli Reserve Forests by the forest officials. Similarly, a peahen was rescued near Mathur in the district and left into the Veppanahalli Reserve Forests. Apart from this, five pangolins (ant-eaters) were rescued from various places in Krishnagiri Range. 

One of the pangolins was rescued by schools students near Bargur recently and they handed it over to the Forest Department. Meanwhile, a proposal has been sent to the government to dug up elephant proof trenches for 40 km around Udedurgam Reserve Forest during the current financial year in the Hosur Forest Division where large number of elephants enter into human habitations via Jawalagiri from Bannarghatta Wildlife Sanctuary.

Elephants destroys 100 tonnes of sugarcane

A herd of 50 to 55 elephants created panic near Hosur early Sunday morning, damaging nearly 100 tonnes of sugarcane. The crop was ready for harvest and preparations were on to send the yield to the mills for crushing, when the incident occurred.

V Jayaraman owns two acres in Nallaralapalli village near Hosur on which he had cultivated the cane. "The cane was all tied up stored in bundles in the field. We were waiting for the trucks to transport the crop to the sugar mills when the herd damaged the crop. The crop was worth Rs 3lakh," he said.

According to forest officials, the elephant herd had come from the Udedurgam Reserve Forests. This is the ninth instance of elephants straying into human settlements in the region in recent months," forest officials said.

There were totally 104 elephants that entered the Tamil Nadu forest area from Kolar Reserve Forest in Karnataka a few weeks ago. They managed to drive 40 elephants back to Karnataka by blasting crackers, said AK Ulaganathan, District Forest Officer (DFO) Krishnagiri district. "While a team of forest officials and employees were able to chase away a herd of 40 wild elephants from Sanamavu and Podur Pallam reserve forests adjoining the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway two days ago, another herd consisting of 20 elephants entered Podur Pallam in Sanamavu forest and damaged ragi, paddy crops and sugarcane in Jingiripalli and its surroundings," Ulaganathan said. The survey on crop damage would be conducted soon by the officials and compensation would be disbursed to the farmers, Ulaganathan added.

While forest officials say they are doing the best they can to curb the man-animal conflict, these incidents continue to happen with increasing frequency.