CM calls for regular awareness generation to thwart elephant attacks
Shillong, Feb 23: Even as the state has six notified elephant corridors and three more being proposed, there cannot be any “100 percent measure” to stop herds from using other tracks that they had been using for centuries, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Monday.
Responding to NPP legislator from Kharkutta Rupert Momin, who raised crop damage from elephants migrating from Assam, Sangma said the state is focused on minimising risk.
“Balance needs to be struck… awareness is conducted on regular basis, voluntary protection squads are supported,” he said, adding that food plantations along corridors are being used to create a “sausage barrier” to reduce encounters.
On Momin’s request for a wildlife office at Wageasi-Dainadubi, the CM said beat and range offices are under examination with planning and finance departments.
UDP member O Suin described how a herd damaged paddy crops, areca nut and houses in Mawsynram for a year. Sangma replied the department will “definitely examine” extending project support and noted a beat office at Ranikor has been proposed.
“I will take details from the MLA and we will do whatever to protect people and crops and also elephants,” he said.
The CM listed four wildlife sanctuaries—Nongkhyllem, Siju, Baghmara, Narpuh—and two national parks, Balpakram and Nokrek, adding that two more sanctuaries at Baghmara and Riatkhwan are being considered.
On catchment protection raised by UDP’s Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, he said Mawkyrwat and other district sites are under review, with Shillong and Tura catchments already protected.
Sangma highlighted anti-poaching patrols, inter-agency intelligence, seizures, prosecutions, community reserves and volunteer squads as part of broader preventive measures to the available species in the state.
