New action plan to tackle elephant problem in Ganjam

'Operation Gajaraj'

Berhampur: To curb the problem created by wild jumbos in Ganjam block, the forest department formed an action plan and it is sent to Chief Conservator of Forest for recommendation, sources said.

According to the action plan, the wild pachyderms are entering to the human habitations. To put a stop to them, a trench of 2.5m depth and 2m width will be dug as first plan. Secondly, fences consisting electric wire will be constructed to check the infiltration of the jumbos to the human habitations. Though there is less possibility to cross the trench by the wild jumbos, still the electric wire fence bearing low voltage electricity is another alternative, sources said.

The problem created by these animals is now a challenge for the forest department to drive away the jumbos from that area. Now 30 forest officials are engaged in this work. They are divided into two groups.

To control the group, one Deputy Range Officer is appointed in each squad. Apart from that, four foresters, two Deputy Officer are assigned for the duty and Khallikote Range Officer is deputed to supervise all the work.

The appointed squads will give report to the Range Officer after recognizing the elephant shelters within the dense forest at the day time. On the other hand, Sobha and Mahendra namely two Kunki elephants are used in the operation guided by the Mahouts one from Assam and two from Odisha respectively to drive away the jumbos.

The Forest Department suspecting that the jumbos are coming from Chandaka forest and residing now in the dense forest areas of Narayani and Barunei hills near Khallikote. The forest officials relocated a herd consisting of eight elephants while the other herd has taken shelter in a secret place, the officials informed. The number of elephant is on the rise. Now 135 elephants are under the Berhampur Forest Division against the 121 elephants before.

Recently, two elephants were electrocuted near Rambha under Ganjam block, while on August 14; six people were injured by elephant attack at Bada Kainchpur village under Ganjam Block. Demanding compensation for the families of the injured, the villagers staged dharna in front of the block office on Friday. The tussle between men and elephant claimed the lives 7 human and 5 jumbos in Ganjam block.