As human-elephant is taking serious turn in the state, my government is going to actively pursue a solution to the problem. We are going to do something to ensure the safety and security of elephants," Gogoi announced at his official residence atop Kainadhora Hill here on Sunday.
The chief minister said a committee will be formed soon comprising experts from the state and other parts of the country to find solution to the increasing human-elephant conflict.
Gogoi added elephants are increasingly entering into human settlements and damaging property because of depleting food supply in forests. "The committee will also take care of ways to make food available for elephants along with ensuring their habitats are protected. The conflict is becoming serious because food availability is getting reduced and habitats are being destroyed," he said.
The CM added the government will move ahead with the mitigation programme, based on suggestions by the committee. With the onset of the harvest season, several districts in the state are in the throes of acute human-elephant conflict. At least four persons were killed and several houses damaged by elephants in Nagaon district in the past two months. In Jorhat district too, recently many people were rendered homeless and cropland destroyed by elephants. Udalguri along the India-Bhutan border is also witnessing a spurt in man-animal conflict. Read the full report here.
Source: Times News Network, Guwahati.
