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PALAKKAD: A meeting of the officials and the people’s representatives to find ways to solve the increasing incidents of man-animal conflict, presided over by district panchayat president K Santhakumari here on Monday, decided to implement elephant emergency protocol in the district.
Santhakumari said with man-animal conflicts on the increase in the district, immediate steps will be taken to prevent such incidents, especially in the northeastern areas of the district close to the forest, besides coordinated efforts of various departments and people’s representatives.
The meeting decided to form a committee on the subject with the district panchayat president as chairperson to find ways and measures to prevent wild animals from entering human settlements.
A code of conduct will also be put in place to tackle the issue, Santhakumari said. A relief fund for the affected farmers will also be constituted with the support of the government and the non-government organizations, she added.
The trenches in the forest areas will also be reconstructed and maintained to prevent wild animals from entering the human settlements and agriculture farms.The meeting also decided to clear all undergrowth bush in the forest boundary to get a clear view of animals coming out of the forest.
SMS alert system will also be introduced on the presence and movement of wild animals on the forest boundaries. Inside the forest, bamboo, reed and jackfruit trees will be planted to provide fodder to the elephants so that they do not come out in search of food to human settlements.
Palakkad divisional forest officer Samul Pachulua said the forest department had sent a report to the government on the problems of man-animal conflict and measures to be taken to prevent it. He said the climate change has reduced fodder and water inside forests, resulting in the wild animals coming out of the forest in search of food and water.