GUWAHATI: Confronted with the growing incidence of human-elephant conflict in the state and constrained by manpower crunch, the Assam forest department will soon constitute public coordination groups in a joint effort to create a roadmap to mitigate the problem in the affected areas.
“To start with, five groups will be formed at Nonaikhuti, Rajagarh, Paneri, Santipur and Udalguri for better coordination between villagers and the forest department,” MK Sarma, divisional forest officer of Dhansiri forest division, Udalguri, told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
Three persons have been trampled to death and one injured in the past two months in Udalguri district under Bodoland Territorial Council even as encroachment by humans and subsequent loss of habitat and corridor blocks have compounded the problem.
“A district-level coordination committee meeting will be held this week where the gaon burahs (village headmen) and people having knowledge on the ground realities would be invited to take part. Suggestions and opinions would be taken into account in order to find out what needs to be done and subsequently create a roadmap to mitigate this conflict,” Sarma said.
The conflict has taken a serious turn in Goalpara forest division as well where at least 50 migratory elephants from Garo Hills are present. A couple of days back, two persons were reportedly trampled to death by a solitary elephant.
Obstruction of pathways (corridors) has rendered wild elephants directionless thereby triggering the conflict in the state’s reserved forests.
In June itself, elephants have damaged several houses near Uttar Garuajhar, Basbari and Saotalbasti under the forest division forcing villagers take shelter in nearby houses.
The forest department had according to a directive by the Udalguri district administration has conducted a survey of the affected villages.
“We have visited the affected areas and found 25 families to be displaced so far. The preliminary report has been submitted to the district administration. However, their rehabilitation will take about three months as the process is cumbersome,” Sarma said.
Of late, several measures to tackle the problem have been taken by the department.
“We have called tenders for the construction of five high-rise concrete towers to keep a close watch on the herds. A control room with a round-the-clock helpline will be opened soon to assist the public that will offer round-the-clock service,” he said.
“Besides, we are looking at strengthening our anti-depredation squads and ensuring that they have the requisite ammunition to tackle the elephants round the clock,” the official said.