As many as 800 more tribal families in Karnataka would be relocated from tiger reserve areas.

Social Welfare Minister A Narayanaswamy said 142 tribal families have already been relocated. They each have received a compensation of Rs ten lakh under a Government of India scheme, while the State has given three acres of land and Rs 5,000 ex-gratia for LPG connection.

In view of increasing man-animal conflict, Narayanaswamy and Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar held a meeting with legislators from those regions along with tribal representatives.

Narayanaswamy said 3,000 tribal families living in eight special forest zones would be given land title deeds within two months.

Yogeshwar said there should be a permanent solution to prevent elephants from straying into villages, adding, a meeting of experts has been convened on January 21 to discuss the issue threadbare and come out with a comprehensive approach to the problem.

He stressed the need to strengthen elephant corridors, boundary walls without gaps and solar fencing in this context.

Yogeshwar lamented that the Forest department is not getting sufficient budgetary allocation, and added he would pursue the matter with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda

New bird species spotted at Chilika Lake