'Cannot evade responsibility, incident at Aralam was unusual'; will take necessary actions, says Forest Minister

KANNUR: Minister AK Saseendran said that the incident that took place at Aralam was unusual, which was why it sparked an unusual reaction from the public. He said that instructions have been given to convene an all-party meeting at Aralam and prepare an action plan.

Minister’s words:
"If there has been any delay in implementing necessary measures, it must be addressed. Aralam Farm is in a semi-forest state. The dense undergrowth will be cleared to control the wildlife movements in the region. We cannot evade this responsibility, and appropriate actions are being taken accordingly. Wildlife intrusions are not limited to government plantations; they are also occurring on private lands. Here too, the dense undergrowth will be cleared to control wildlife movements.

The entry of wild animals from forests into human settlements is a major issue. This is a problem that requires time to resolve. Such situations did not exist before; this is a new phenomenon. Plans will be formulated accordingly. Funds have already been allocated for implementing these plans, and steps will be taken to address any delays in execution.

We will examine whether there were any delays at the official level in completing the first phase of the Aralam elephant wall. There has been a delay in clearing the dense undergrowth. A decision will soon be made regarding the installation of more surveillance cameras and other necessary measures."