Power fence firm moves court

BANGALORE: A firm, which was engaged by the Forest Department to put up fences in the Hunsur Forest Range to prevent wild animals from crossing over to villages surrounding the forests, has petitioned the Karnataka High Court against an order of the Forest Department asking it to pay damages for fences destroyed by wild animals.

The firm, IBEX Gallagher, said it was involved in the business of manufacturing, marketing and maintaining power fencing. It said it was installing solar fencing. IBEX said it had installed fences around Parliament House, Cabinet Secretariat building, UAE Embassy, HAL, Ship Building Centre at Visakhapatnam, Bandipur forest, and Central prison at Parappana Agrahara. It said the Forest Department on October 30 called for tenders to put up power fences in Hunsur forest range covering 84 km of forests.

It said the department had accepted its bid.

The firm said it had made it clear to the Forest Department that it could not guarantee normal wear and tear of the equipment.

It said the department claimed that more than 30 km of the 84-km fence was destroyed by wild animals and elephants. The department asked the company to pay damages of Rs. 37 lakh and sent a notice to the firm.

The firm urged the court to stay the notice.

Justice L. Narayanaswamy asked the State to file its objections within a week and adjourned hearing on the case.

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