In order to resolve man-animal conflict in Khowai district of Tripura, where wild elephants often attack villagers and rampage in habitats and crops, the Tripura government will adopt multiple strategies to resolve the conflict , said Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma .

Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat, the Forest Minister accompanied by top officials of the Forest department said that the Teliamura and Mungiakamti forest ranges which are considered natural elephant corridors in Khowai district are the most affected.

The department has decided to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) about the reduction of man-animal conflict in two forest ranges.

Once the DPR is prepared, the state government will send it to the Centre seeking financial assistance to handle elephant attacks on the human habitations in Teliamura and Mungiakami ranges for construction of different under-passes covering the Chakmaghat to Mungiakami areas also, said Debbarma.

He said the forest department will also adopt some immediate measures, as a pilot project, to control the wild elephants.

Under the pilot project, trenches will be created to restrain the free movements of the elephants. Five watch towers will be built in Teliamura and Mugiakmati forest ranges to maintain a vigil on the movement of the jumbos, he said.

Asserting that controlling elephant attacks in human habitations has become a major concern for the department, he said the department will procure special guns to drive away elephants.

The department have decided to procure special guns to drive away wild elephants from habitations. The guns will be handed over to the anti-depredation squad of the department at the earliest, said Animesh.

Debbarma said the elephants are not able to move towards the Atharamura hill range due to the facelift of the national highway, which may be the reason for the attacks on human habitations during recent times.

Due to the traffic on the national highway, the elephants are virtually confined to Teliamura and Mungiakami ranges and for these reasons, the Forest department  to construct underpasses in three places so that Jumbos could move from one place to another place, said the Forest Minister.

According to Debbarma, the forest department will ensure enough food for elephants in two forest ranges.

Besides, an adequate quantity of salt, which the jumbos like a lot, will be made available inside forest areas.

Animesh Debbarma also said that as part of the celebration of ‘Vana Mohatsav-2024’, the Forest Department will plant five lakh trees within five minutes on July 5th across the state to reduce the effects of deforestation and the mega tree plantation drive will be conducted in association of different organizations including government agencies and educational institutions, security forces, NGOs etc.

He said that as a pilot project, the biggest flower garden in the entire Northeast region will be developed at East Takchaya ADC village under Tilashikar forest range of Khowai district and hoped that in future, the proposed flower garden will attract more tourists.

Highlighting the future initiatives of Forest department, Debbarma said that initiatives has been taken for modernization of Sepahijala sanctuary along with other parks of the Agartala and other subdivisional parts of the state including developing of multi-utility halls in Baramura Eco Park, and constructing resorts to facilitate destination weddings. The idea of opening cafeterias inside the parks was also highlighted to improve visitor experience. Plans to renovate the Heritage Park in Agartala and construct a multi-utility centre inside Nehru Park were also revealed.

During the press meet, PCCF, Dr Avinash Kanfade and CEO of State CAMPA, Rabindra Kumar Samal were also present.