State will enact legislation to address human-wildlife conflict: Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state will enact legislation concerning human-wildlife conflict, and a draft bill is currently under review by the Law Department, the Chief Minister informed during a meeting with MPs from the state. The meeting was held at the Thiruvananthapuram Guest House ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Regarding the resettlement at Meppadi and Chooralmala in Wayanad, the state government had submitted a damage assessment to the Centre. The meeting decided to adopt a unified stance to seek Rs 2,221.10 crore for Meppadi and Rs 98.10 crore for Vilangad in Kozhikode district. MPs agreed on the need for a joint effort to reinstate Section 13, which was excluded from the Disaster Management Act. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to amend the Wildlife Protection Act to grant states more authority to make region-specific relaxations, and to ensure the timely release of the Centre’s share in compensation.

The Chief Minister highlighted the need for approval and allocation of funds for several key rail projects, including the Thalassery–Mysuru and Nilambur–Nanjangud railway lines, the Kanhangad–Panathur–Kaniyur railway line, the Angamaly–Erumeli Sabarimala railway line, as well as the third and fourth railway lines in the state and the extension of the Kochi Metro from SN Junction to Thrippunithura Metro Station.

MPs assured the Chief Minister that their interventions in these matters would rise above party politics to protect the state's interests.

It was informed that joint and coordinated action would be taken on proposals submitted to the Central Government for the protection of the lives and property of coastal fishermen alongside the construction of the sea wall. Efforts would also be made to ensure the allocation of additional food grains to the state under the Tide Over provision.