Guwahati, June 3: NE Region’s premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) in collaboration with Assam
Forest Department and with support from the SBI Foundation has handover a newly-installed solar-powered
fence to the community in Uttarkuchi village in Baksa district of Assam on May 25 last for mitigation of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the area and to facilitate coexistence and human wellbeing by protecting livelihoods.
This newly-installed stretch of solar-powered fence protects nearly 55 hectares of agricultural land and directly benefits nine
neighbourhoods (Chubas) having 370 households, and nearly 1,580 residents who are largely dependent on
agriculture for their livelihoods.
The lifeline fence was reinstalled responding to persistent requests from the HEC-prone villagers who sought immediate replacement of a similar fence that was installed in 2013 but rendered hardly functional because of maintenance and technical reasons since 2019-20.
However, over the years the local community has recognised the solar-powered fence system as a safe and
efficient measure for protecting both human lives and elephant movement routes, thereby help reducing
conflict without causing harm to wildlife and human population. Hence, the villagers asked for restoration of the solar-powered fence for the safety of their croplands, property and lives.
Aaranyak and Forest Department, with support from the SBI Foundation, have reinstalled the solar-powered fence with active ground-level cooperation from community members for protecting agricultural fields and households as well as ensuring peaceful
coexistence with elephants.
Uttarkuchi, located in one of Assam’s major human-elephant conflict hotspots, has long faced challenges
due to frequent elephant movement through farmlands and nearby villages. Crop damage and concerns over
human safety have remained persistent for the community.
The official handover of the fence system was attended by representatives of the Forest Department,
community and local institutions/organisations, including the Gaon Pradhan, members of the Manas Souchi
Ecotourism Society, All Bodo Students’ Union, All Assam Madahi Students’ Union, and the Uttarkuchi
Market Committee. Around 40 community members participated in the programme.
The newly-installed solar-powered fence system was formally handed over to the Uttarkuchi Solar Fencing
Management Committee and the local community for its management, operation, and maintenance.
Addressing the gathering, Aaranyak’s Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, along with the
Gaon Pradhan, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, regular maintenance, and adherence
to safety protocols to ensure the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the fence system.
Aaranyak’s Executive Committee member Kaushik Barua, Deputy Head (ERCD) Hiten Baishya, Assistant
Manager (ERCD) Anjan Baruah, Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Anushka Saikia, Jiban Chetry, Bistirna
Buragohain, Bijoy Kalita and Pradip Barman were present during the programme.
By Bijay Sankar Bora
