During the 14-day-halt at Krishnapuram and Kannadipudur near Udumalpet, wild elephant Chinna Thambi had caused large-scale crop damages. The elephant had raided sugarcane, maize and banana crops apart from damaging coconut palms, onion and tomato fields.
V. Ganesan, Field Director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, assured the farmers who approached him that compensation will be awarded for the damages caused by the elephant. N. Chinnaponnu, whose sugarcane field at Kannadipudur was raised by the elephant, broke into tears. A. Sethuraman, another farmer, claimed that the elephant halted in his sugarcane field for a week and damaged pumpsets, apart from raiding the crop. The elephant also went on a rampage in the onion and tomato fields of farmer Karuppasamy and banana field of farmer Senthil.
Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (Non-political), which had demanded the capture of the elephant, hailed Friday’s operation.