Guwahati, June 8: Two community-managed stretches of low-cost solar-powered fence supported by
Goalpara Forest Division of Assam Forest Department, were inaugurated and handed over to the community
in a programme organised at the community hall of Amguri village in Goalpara district of Assam on June 4
last.
The single-strand circular solar fences were installed in two parts namely, Amguri Part-I and Part-II, with
respective length of 4 km and 1.5 km, respectively.
The Amguri village in situated under Lakhipur Forest Range of Goalpara Forest Division. Sixty households
have been secured in Amguri Part-I and 22 households in Amguri Part-II by these stretches of solar fence.
The Gaonburah of Amguri village Guniram Koch presided over the fence inauguration meeting that was
attended by 50 villagers.
The Range officer Mou Pran Gayan inaugurated the fence with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Forester Dhon
Doloi and other forest staff of the Range Office attended the programme.
The Range Officer described the efficacy of solar-powered fence in mitigation of human -elephant conflict
(HEC) and how it helps to the community in different other ways to secure their livelihood. He called upon
the villagers to look after take the solar-powered fence properly to keep it efficient.
Aaranyak official Anjan Baruah explained about the community-oriented Solar-powered fence and its
proper maintenance procedure. He also expressed gratitude to the Forest Department especially the Goalpara
Forest Division for supporting the solar-powered fences in various forest ranges of Goalpara district for
mitigation of the HEC.
He highlighted collaborative effort of the local community, Forest Department and Aaranyak in installing
the solar fence at Amguri village.
Aaranyak staff Ripunjoy Nath also interacted with the local community and provided tips for proper
maintenance of the fence in the village.
The solar-powered fences were officially handed over to the Amguri Part-I and Part-II Solar Fencing
Committees and local communities the programme following signing of a tripartite MoU among Amguri
Part-I and Part-II solar fencing committees, Forest Department and Aaranyak.
