Mysuru:  Even as the Forest Officials are making relentless efforts to tackle elephant menaces, a herd of wild elephants, which have been roaming about in the outskirts of several villages in the taluk, has destroyed standing crops near Chikkanahalli in the taluk recently.

The elephants from Chikkanahalli Reserved Forest area in Jayapura hobli of the taluk, have destroyed crops grown in farmlands around Chikkanahalli, causing a loss of lakhs of rupees to the farmers.

After destroying crops in tens of acres of land around Chikkanahalli, the elephants have now moved to Konana Betta forest area near Bettadabeedu coming under Chamundeshwari Assembly segment.

The efforts of the Forest Department to drive out the elephants from Konana Betta have proved futile so far as the elephants have stayed put, causing worry to the villagers.

The pachyderms have destroyed Banana crops grown in four acres of land belonging to Shivannegowda and Bheemagowda of Mavinahalli three days ago. They have also destroyed jack fruit trees and ridge gourd crop grown in adjacent lands.

The elephants have also caused havoc in neighbouring villages such as Harohalli, Kallahalli, Gumachanahalli and Soliga Colony, destroying crops, causing a loss of lakhs of rupees to the farmers.

Suffering huge losses due to the destruction of crops by elephants, the affected farmers have urged the Forest, Revenue and Horticulture Department officials to conduct a survey and announce appropriate compensation.

Meanwhile, Forest Officer Prashanth said that the Department has been making constant efforts to drive the elephants back to the forests. The Department has sought Police help for preventing elephant menace in Chikkanahalli area and all measures have been taken to end the menace, he added.