Correspondent

PASIGHAT, Sep 9: The people of Mer village under Mebo Sub-Division here in East Siang district has been facing major crop raids by wild elephants from last one month in which 30 households were totally affected with either their paddy or bamboo plantations destroyed.

Informing about the plight of the villagers, Mer village Gaon Burah, Vinod Perme, and village Secretary, Akan Regon said that several hectares of paddy cultivation were destroyed and eaten by elephant herd totaling around 200. “We will starve if the government does not help us by giving some compensation of ration against the damages. Even the houses and huts in the agricultural fields were damaged where two persons escaped from trampling by elephants”, added Perme who has also informed the forest department for damage assessment.

Finding no option, the villagers used a domesticated elephant to chase away the wild elephant herd. They were successful in driving away the herd, but another herd, typically the Burmese elephants (smaller in size) reached the area of the Mer village which is located on the fringes of D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary.

Hearing the plight of the villagers, Divisional Forest Officer, D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary, Tasang Taga today visited the village and advised them not to kill or harm the wild elephants while driving away the elephant herd. He also handed over packets of crackers to the village head to be used for driving away the elephants. Taga said that elephants from the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Soikhowa from Assam pass nearby the Mer village for this being an elephant corridor. He appreciated the villagers for taking proper care of the elephants while driving them away. He also handed over solar lamps to the village Gaon Burah and village Secretary as a token of appreciation.  

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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