Ruksin Forest Range Officer Y. Potom has submitted a proposal to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Pasighat seeking his initiative for installation of power fence to prevent man-elephant conflict in areas close to the Reserve Forest.
“We are planning installation of battery-powered electric fence (battery operated shock-string) at vulnerable locations at Ruksin, Pasighast and Mebo areas for prevention of wild elephant disturbances. We are all set to submit the schemes to higher ups of forest department for sanctioning in next financial year,” said Pasighat DFO (T) Tabang Jamoh.
Jamoh informed that there was a elephant corridor linking Dibru Saikhowa, Poba RF (Assam part), Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary and Mebo jungles, wherein the elephant herd visits every year in search of food.
“The man-elephant conflict in this region is on increasing trend due to gradual destruction of elephant habitat and food crisis”, said the forest official.
The villagers of Lingka, Mangnang and Baro-Mile living close to Poba Reserve Forest (RF) in East Siang have been demanding the forest department to take effective measure to drive away the herd of wild elephant from the area. They are also demanding the authority to pay compensation against the crops damaged by the jumbos.
The wild tuskers come out from Poba RF in search of food, are causing extensive damage to standing crops and other properties in fringe villages and thereby incurred heavy losses to the rural farmers for the last few years.
This year too, a herd of 13-14 wild elephants created havoc in rural areas and created massive disturbance at Lingka and Magnang villages and Leku-Jelom paddy fields (Assam) during November.
The forest officials of Ruksin range reportedly took some remedial measures to drive away the elephant herd, but their temporary measures could not console the sufferers.
The villagers have demanded forest authority to chalk out permanent solution measure like erection of EB fencing (Shock-wire) project covering reserve forest boundary at fringe villages and ensure protection of lives and properties from the wild elephant menace.
It may be mentioned that Forest department of Assam has implemented Shock-Wire project at Poba RF (Lower portion) to prevent elephant havoc in the fringe villages in Assam.