Bengaluru, March 6 (NationPress) In an effort to address the escalating human-animal conflict, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives during the State Budget presentation in the Legislative Assembly. These measures focus on enhancing forest conservation and upgrading environmental infrastructure.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the government has allocated Rs 1,044 crore over the past three years to tackle the intricate issue of human-animal conflict. This funding has supported compensation for agricultural damage, livestock losses, and fatalities, along with the establishment of three new elephant task forces and one leopard task force, creating a total of 358 new positions. Protection measures including the installation of railway barricades, trenching, and solar fencing have also been implemented.

To further reduce human-animal conflict, the Karnataka Man-Animal Conflict Mitigation Programme will be launched with a budget of Rs 1,500 crore over the next five years, with Rs 269 crore already allocated for the current fiscal year.

Additionally, the Chief Minister declared that 5,676 acres of Hesaraghatta Grassland in Bengaluru will now be recognized as the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve, with plans for its conservation and development.

A dedicated Leopard Rehabilitation Centre will be constructed in Bannerghatta at a cost of Rs 5 crore, aimed at rehabilitating leopards that have been relocated from urban areas surrounding Bengaluru.

The Forest Department will also see an enhancement with the recruitment of 2,000 personnel across various roles during the 2026-27 fiscal year.

To boost tourism and improve visitor experiences, a Nature Interpretation Centre will be established through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for visitors to the Mysore Zoo and Bannerghatta Biological Park.

In alignment with the National Forest Policy, priority efforts will be directed towards districts with less than 10 percent forest cover, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka area. Afforestation initiatives will take place across 75,000 hectares, with a funding allocation of Rs 150 crore, including Rs 50 crore from the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB).

Furthermore, a 153-acre area in Madappanahalli in Bengaluru North taluk will be developed as the Cultural Leader Basavanna Biodiversity Park, designated as a crucial ‘lung space’ for the city.

To improve air quality monitoring across the state, 15 new continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations will be set up.

Lastly, the Chief Minister announced plans for a memorial honoring the esteemed environmentalist Salumarada Thimmakka near Hulikal-Kudur.