Resumed blastings cause surge in elephant depredation

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Resumed blastings cause surge in elephant depredation

 

From Our Correspondent

DERGAON, June 14 — Inspite of repeated protests, the forest

department has resumed blastings at stone quarries in Kaziranga-

Karbi Anglong elephant corridor. As a result depredation by the wild

elephants have started again on the fringe area of Kaziranga

national park and Karbi-Anglong elephant corridor. A herd of wild

elephants numbering around 40 are sheltering at Rongbong area under

Numaligarh police outpost. The herd attacked several houses at Rong

Bong gaon No. 4 under Numaligarh outpost in Golaghat district

recently and killed one school student besides damaging several

houses.

 

According to NRL police, one Kedar Chetai (17) of Ronglong No. 4 was

killed by a herd of wild elephants recently. The herd also attacked

several houses in which three houses were damaged completely. After

this the people of the area are living in a stale of anxiety. The

forest as well as Golaghat district administration have failed to

control the problem.

 

It is pertinent to mention that the elephant depredation was

witnessed in greater dimension after the starting of blasting in the

stone quarries at Bihara as well as adjacent area. After the

blastings, the wild elephant lost their habitat as the place was an

elephant corridor. As a result last year more than 30 people lost

their lives in elephant depredation.

 

After a strong protest, the State government stopped the blastings

at Bihara and formed an Elephant Task Force to enquire into the

matter. But the force headed by Dr AK Goswami has yet not been able

to submit its report. But in the meantime, the State government

again gave permission for blastings at Karbi Anglong-Kaziranga

adjacent area.