Guwahati, July 9: A 3 km-long community-managed solar-powered fence installed to secure human elephant conflict (HEC)-affected Rangagarah village under Goalpara Forest Range of Goalpara Forest Division in Assam was inaugurated and handed over to the community recently on July 5.
The solar fence installation work was successfully completed in June this year by Aaranyak team, Forest Department and the local community –level committee in a collaborative effort under the sponsorship of the Goalpara Forest Division Solar Fence Project, according to a Press communique.
The Rangagarah village has around 55 households. The residents of the village belong to indigenous Rabha community and 95% of the villagers depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
The villagers have been facing a serious HEC issue for the last 20 years. The local community has been losing crops, properties and even human lives due to HEC.
The Range Officer Sashi Mohan Sinha of Goalpara Sadar Range inaugurated the fence by cutting the ceremonial red ribbon. Later, in a formal inauguration meeting the solar fence was handed over to the Rangagarah local community and an MoU was signed between local community, Forest Department and Aaranyak.
Around 60 local villagers participated in that meeting presided by Narah Rabha, Gaon Burah of the village. Range Officer Sashi Bhusan Sinha delivered a lecture on the HEC issue and the importance of solar fence for mitigation mentioning about the responsibility of the local villagers to establish coexistence between human and elephant.
From Aaranyak, Assistant Manager Anjan Baruah spoke on the effectiveness of solar fence, responsibilities of community in maintaining the fence and highlighted dos and don’ts regarding management of solar fence.
