Bengaluru, Aug. 23 -- Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said that 310 Forest Watchers and 540 Forest Guards (totalling 850 personnel) will be appointed soon to prevent man-animal conflicts in the State.

Replying to a question by MLC S. Keshav Prasad in the Legislative Council, Khandre said that currently, the Forest Department is paying Rs. 20 lakh each as compensation to victims who have died in man-animal conflicts, while the Agriculture Department is paying Rs. 2 lakh as compensation to victims of snake bite.

Maintaining that the Department is taking various measures to keep man-animal conflicts under check in the State, Khandre said, the official notification on the formation of a dedicated Elephant Task Force for Dakshina Kannada dist...