Farmers in Thekkampatti village near Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, have urged the Tamil Nadu government to relocate a proposed elephant rejuvenation camp, warning that restarting the facility on the banks of the Bhavani River could intensify human-elephant conflict in an already drought-stressed region. The appeal comes after the state's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister recently announced in the Assembly that ₹3 crore had been allocated to revive the camp at Thekkampatti — a site that has remained unused for the past five years.

Why Farmers Are Alarmed

Residents of Thekkampatti and Nellithurai panchayats argue that the chosen site falls squarely within a traditional migration corridor used by wild elephant herds. The area also contains watering points that elephant groups regularly visit as they move through the forest landscape. Farmers warn that construction activity, temporary enclosures, and the surge in human presence associated with the camp could obstruct these established routes and cut off the animals' access to water.

Should that happen, wild elephants may be forced to seek alternative passages through nearby settlements and agricultural fields. Villages identified as potentially at risk include Thekkampatti, Dasanur, NG Pudur, RG Pudur, Thottadasanur, Nellithurai, and Kittampalayam. According to local accounts, elephant straying from the forest already causes frequent crop raids and occasional attacks on residents across these areas.

Breeding Season and Wild Elephant Attraction

A separate concern centres on timing and composition. The camp is expected to be conducted during the breeding season and will predominantly house female temple elephants. Farmers fear that the presence of captive females could draw wild male elephants toward the campsite and adjoining farmlands, compounding the risk of dangerous encounters. Previous incidents in which wild elephants entered earlier editions of the rejuvenation camp and confronted captive elephants and mahouts have heightened community anxiety.

Drought, Crop Losses, and Compensation Gaps

Agricultural fields surrounding the proposed venue are already under severe stress due to prevailing drought conditions. Any uptick in elephant movement, farmers argue, would translate into further crop losses — losses for which compensation is reportedly often delayed or considered inadequate by affected growers. The economic vulnerability of the farming community makes the stakes of a poorly sited camp particularly acute.

Traffic and Safety Concerns

Beyond wildlife conflict, residents have flagged the prospect of serious traffic congestion on the Thekkampatti–Vanapathirakali Amman Temple road. The arrival of visitors, vehicles, and temporary roadside vendors during the camp period could disrupt local movement and, critically, slow emergency response times in an area where rapid evacuation may sometimes be necessary.

What Farmers Are Demanding

The farming community has formally requested the state government and the Forest Department to commission a thorough ecological and safety assessment before any work begins. They have also asked authorities to identify an alternative site — one that is clear of elephant corridors, villages, and cultivated land — to allow the rejuvenation programme to proceed without endangering either wildlife or livelihoods. The government is yet to publicly respond to the relocation demand.