In view of the number of elephant deaths increasing in the State, the Odisha Krushak Mahasangha (OKM) has once again urged the State Government to frame stringent laws to check killing of jumbos and protection and conservation of forests at the earliest.
“Reports of elephant deaths and trampling of villagers are being published in newspapers frequently. All these are happening as poachers are not getting stringent punishment and elephants are being forced to enter human habitations in search of foods. If adequate forests are available, elephants will never come to human habitations. Similarly, poaching can be checked if stringent laws are framed and implemented. The OKM’s repeated demands in this regard have fallen in deaf ears only,” lamented OKM president Bibhudhendra Pratap Das.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Das stated that all elephants, tigers, bears and other wild animals will disappear in 10 years time appropriate measures are not taken from now.
“A special court should be established for quick disposal of wild animal crime cases, Informers of poachers should be rewarded an amount ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh and their names be kept secret. A 24-hour patrolling system should put in place and animal hunters and forest mafias should arrested under the NSA. Required laws should immediately be framed in these regards,” suggested Das.
To conserve forests, Das suggested that a restriction should be imposed on use of forest wood for making doors, windows and furniture by private persons. People can be encouraged to use aluminium and iron instead, he stated.
“The Government should disconnect electricity and impose fine on those who would use wood in house-making,” suggested Das.
To create adequate food and drinking water sources, the Government should undertake bamboo plantation activities through private agencies keeping bank guarantee from them. “It has been seen that bamboo plantations undertaken by Government have failed due to corruption. Hence, bamboos should be grown on one lakh hectare of land every year though private agencies keeping security money from them. Besides, ponds and trenches should be dug in forests to provide drinking water to animal,” said Das
The former MLA too suggested that solar fencing should be erected on both sides of railway trams in forest areas to protect elephants from railway accidents. The Railways should be asked to do this, added Das.
Forest officials should be armed with modern arms and ammunition and police power to protect them from mafias as the latter uses powerful weapons.
Besides, Government should cut tusks of male elephants regularly so that killing of the animals can be checked to a great extent. The Thailand Government cuts tusks of elephants regularly to check poaching, Das stated.
Das too urged the Government to provide attractive compensation to farmers who lose crops due to elephants and Rs 10 lakh each to kin of those who would be killed by elephants.