Andhra, Karnataka join hands to tackle red sandalwood smuggling
AP Deputy CM K Pawan Kalyan with Karnataka Environment and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre and others in Bengaluru on Thursday
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have decided to work jointly to prevent wildlife poaching, red sandalwood smuggling and combat elephant menace on the border areas.
A broad understanding was reached on mutual cooperation after film actor and AP Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan held a detailed discussion with Karnataka Environment and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre in Bengaluru on Thursday. Earlier, the Jana Sena founder made a courtesy call on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
On the Karnataka plea for allotment of sites at Tirumala and Srisailam, which are frequented by several people from the neighbouring State, Pawan Kalyan promised to consider the request by bringing it to the notice of Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu after his return to Amaravati.
The Deputy CM said there will always be a cordial relationship between Karnataka and AP. Many problems can be solved if the authorities and rulers of the two States work together, he said and thanked Karnataka Government for extending adequate support to AP to resolve elephant menace in parts of Chittoor district. Under the agreement eight Kumki elephants will be sent to AP. Kumki elephants are trained to capture wild elephants by trapping them. Kumki elephants can be strategically deployed in places where man-animal conflicts are more due to movement of wild elephants herd. They are specially trained to drive away the wild elephants preventing crop damage and human losses.
