Kerala tusker attack: Forest department starts work on trench at Valiyathuparambu

The Forest department has started digging the trench along the stretch affected by wild animal invasion in Pinavoorkudy ward of Kuttampuzha panchayat where a man was trampled to death by a wild tusker on Monday night.

The work has begun at the site identified as Valiyathuparambu, which is the starting point of the eight-km-long trench in Pinavoorkudy. That the work on the trench would start on Tuesday itself was one of the main assurances given by District Collector N.S.K. Umesh to diffuse the public protest that lasted over six hours since Monday night.

“We already have an alignment and levels (depth of the trench) have been fixed for around two km. On the rest of the stretch, there was a realignment and fixing of levels on that stretch will also be done simultaneously. The work will have to be carried out carefully so that issues like waterlogging do not arise in the future,” said Neriamangalam forest range sources.

The trench is being dug at a depth of two metres to three metres. The work will be completed in two phases of four metres each. The entire trench could be completed by the middle of the next month if the weather remains good, Forest department sources said.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mar George Madathikandathil of Kothamangalam Diocese has come down heavily on the State government, especially the Forest department, for having allegedly done precious little for ensuring the safety and security of the people. The government, he alleged, has failed to ensure the free and peaceful life of the people. The bishop was especially scathing of the Forest department, which he alleged, is not even implementing the directions of the government.

Dean Kuriakose, Idukki MP, meanwhile moved an adjournment motion on the issue in the Parliament on Tuesday.

Published - December 17, 2024 09:04 pm IST