Bengaluru: As a permanent solution to the man-elephant conflict in the state, the Cabinet, on Thursday, decided to construct a fence using railway tracks.

Addressing the media after the meeting, law and parliamentary affairs minister J C Madhuswamy informed that the government is planning to construct a fence using Railway tracks to prevent the elephants from wandering into human settlements.

“An allocation of Rs 100 crores has been approved for the current year to build a fence across a 118-kilometer stretch,” he told the media, adding that the project is estimated to cost Rs 1.2 crores per kilometre.

Over a period of three years, the government plans on constructing the railway track fence across 517 kilometres at a cost of Rs 628 crores, he added.

When asked about the previous failed attempt, which led to the deaths of several elephants, Madhuswamy said that the forest department had assured the cabinet of using the tracks in an effective manner to make the project work this time.

In the first phase of the project Nagarhole (24kms), Bandipur (17 kms), Madikeri (14 kms), Virajpet (3kms), MM Hills near Kollegala (13 kms), Cauvery forest reserve (15 kms), Ramanagara (6 kms), Bannerghatta (15 kms) and Hassan (6 kms) will be cordoned for elephants.

During the meeting, the Yennehole lift irrigation project for Karkala and 120 other neighbouring villages in the Udupi district was also approved. The project is estimated to cost Rs 108 crores and the laying of UGD lines in Chikkanayakanahalli town in Tumakuru will cost another Rs 55 crores.