Border sealed to prevent Tamil Nadu people from entering K’taka

Mysuru: Following an increase in coronavirus infection in Tamil Nadu, the people in the neighbouring state have started entering Karnataka through the forest area by crossing the Cauvery river. To prevent such illegal entry, the foresters have sealed all its forest checkposts.
There has been a surge in infection in Tamil Nadu with over 15,000 positive cases and more than 100 deaths. As the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, the people, especially those living in the border areas, are entering Karnataka.
The people had tried to enter through Male Mahadeshwara Hills in the border district of Chamarajanagar by risking their lives — they need to cross Cauvery which flows between the two states, and Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses wild animals, including tiger.
Karnataka foresters, having come to know of the illegal entry, sealed all the routes and checkposts at Hoogyam, Jellipalya ,Gajanuru and Garikekandi, through which people could have entered the state. They have also sealed the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Palar.
MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary DCF V Yedkukondalu told TOI that the forest department has closed all the border areas and are keeping vigil on people coming from Tamil Nadu.
“During summer, the water level of Cauvery comes down, enabling people from Tamil Nadu cross over to Karnataka. They walk through small paths in the forest to reach towns and manage to escape from the authorities at state border checkposts. So we have sealed all the routes at the borders. Besides major routes, we have also closed more than 12 small paths,” he said.
Yedukondalu said that over 35 forest staff are patrolling the forest areas and keeping a vigil on routes at the border. “Villagers living in border areas have been asked to inform the foresters about unidentified or suspicious persons in their locality. We have set up forest camps to monitor the movement of people along the river,” he said, adding some of those who had come from the neighbouring state were also sent back.