By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The proposed ‘elephant corridor’ aimed at reducing man-animal conflict along Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is awaiting clearance and sanction from Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Talking to media persons here ahead of his departure to BSF headquarters, BSF IG, Meghalaya Frontier, Sudesh Kumar said that criminals usually take advantage and follow the trail of the herds of elephants to cross the border.
Attacks by elephants on BSF personnel has also been a concern for the men guarding the borders. Many a times herds of elephants destroy the border fencing and even injure BSF personnel along the border.
It may be mentioned that the proposal for creating five elephant corridors has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs after consultations with the Forest Department.
The elephant corridors are specially designed gaps along the fenced border to allow the pachyderms to cross between Bangladesh and India for food and shelter, but have security towers at both ends to check illegal entry of people.
The BSF personnel manning the border usually use fire and drums to drive the herds of elephants away.
Meanwhile, Kumar also informed that the BSF faces other logistical challenges like communication and connectivity in the State.
“Communication is pathetic here… there is a need for construction of roads as many a times the vehicles breakdown ,” he said.
He also rued the fact that there is poor cellular and internet connectivity in the border areas.
The outgoing BSF IG also termed his experience in the State as a ‘wonderful’ one in which he has been able to bridge the gap between civilians and BSF. “People who were earlier opposing the construction of border outposts later gave their land for the purpose,” he said adding that during his tenure there was not a single instance of firing along the border.