Tripura to build four Elephant passes at Mungiakami, Says Minister

Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Tuesday announced that the state government will construct four elephant passes at Mungiakami in Khowai district to ensure the safe and unhindered movement of wild elephants.

Mungiakami, situated at the foothills of the Atharamura Range, has been officially identified as an elephant corridor. In 2024, two elephants were killed in the area after being struck by speeding trains, raising serious concerns over wildlife safety.

The minister said the government is prioritising the construction of at least four dedicated elephant passes at the site. The process of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently underway to facilitate the initiative.

He further informed that additional elephant passes may be developed in the future if required.

Emphasising the importance of adopting scientific measures to mitigate human-animal conflict, Debbarma said the Forest Department will push for separate provisions to safeguard wildlife while implementing major infrastructure projects.

He noted that discussions are needed with agencies executing large-scale projects, including railway and road authorities, to ensure proper rehabilitation measures for both villagers and wildlife to minimise conflict. The department has already taken up the matter with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, he added.

Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated a workshop on “Human-Animal Interaction,” highlighting the need for ecological sensitivity in development planning.

“If wildlife habitats are disturbed, the entire ecological balance will be adversely affected,” he said.