Ensure maintenance of trenches and solar fences to curb human elephant conflict, officials told

Officials claim rail barricading has reduced human elephant conflicts significantly in areas where the project has been implemented.
| Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar B. Khandre instructed the officials to ensure that the solar fences and the elephant proof trenches (EPTs) are maintained so as to minimise conflict situations. He has also sought a proposal, along with a map, for installing rail barricades around villages abutting the Bandipur National Park.

Mr. Khandre was interacting with Forest Department officials on Wednesday. He said EPT maintenance was a must otherwise it will pave way for elephants to cross to human landscape resulting in conflict situation. Similarly, solar fences should also be maintained failing which their installation will be futile, he noted. He sought a report on the action taken by authorities in this regard.

On the installation of rail fence, the officials said that nearly 85 km of barricading around Bandipur has been completed and the Minister sought a detailed plan with map for taking it further. An additional 87 km of barricading need to be installed and is expected to cost ₹157 crore. Once completed, it is expected to effectively reduce human elephant conflict in areas where the barricading is in place.

In view of the onset of summer in the weeks ahead, Mr. Khandre said the department should be prepared to handle dry season and the fallout of animals wandering from their habitat in search of fodder and water. Hence, Mr. Khandre said that bamboo cultivation should be taken up along the forest boundary abutting villages as it will help reduce conflict.  

The officials were instructed to ensure that the waterholes in the forest do not go dry during summer. Major national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the region have scores solar-powered pump sets that help replenish waterholes.

The Minister said solar-powered borewells should be activated and regular pumping should be taken up to replenish the waterholes. Lack of water during summer is also one of the reason for wild animals straying into human landscape escalating conflict situation, he added.

Mr. Khandre noted that wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and tiger sanctuaries in the region were susceptible to fire during summer and have a history of outbreak of forest fires. Hence, he directed officials to ensure that preparations to fight the forest fires were in place.

This includes additional deployment of fire watchers. Both Bandipur and Nagarahole tend to appoint temporary watchers  – about 450 each – from January to the onset of monsoon. Fire lines are also burnt and cleared off vegetation and this acts as fire breakers during a conflagration. In addition, the officials were instructed to interact with villagers around the forests and take them into confidence and create awareness on prevention of forest fires. The authorities said over 45 awareness camps have already been completed in Bandipur and another 55 camps were slated to be held.