(IN): Marauding elephants get CM’s protection

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*http://thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=23 & theme= & usrsess=1 & id=262845*

*Marauding elephants get CM’s protection*

 

;Statesman News Service

BANKURA, 29 JULY: A migratory herd of elephants that has been wreaking havoc

across the Bankura stretches for the past few years is not to be troubled.

Even the chief minister, despite the nuisance caused by the lumbering

pachyderms, has asked both the villagers and the forest officials not to

cause them any difficulty.

A herd of 60 migrating elephants from the Dalma ranges in Jharkhand struck

Bankura about three months ago. The herd, so far, has killed two persons in

the Bishnupur and Barjora PS areas. Besides destroying hundreds of acres of

crop, the elephants have also razed to the ground several mud houses, mainly

in Barjora, Beliatore, Sonamukhi and Bishnupur block areas. The villagers,

perturbed by the continued elephant menace, had led two dharnas in front of

the Bankura DM office in 2007. The villagers had demanded adequate

compensation against their crop loss besides a permanent solution preventing

the access of the elephants to the localities. As stated by Mr Dhwajahori

Mondal, a resident of Jambedia in Barjora: " People like me are the worst hit

by the elephant menace. The animals have been staying in the Saharjora and

Ghutgoria forests for the past two-and-a-half months and are roaming freely

here and there. "

His colleague from Ghutgoria village, Mr Ansuman Ghosh, said: " We used to

incur crop loss to the tune of Rs 50,000 each year and our fate has been

completely ruined due to the menace. If this continues, we would have to

give up cultivation permanently. "

The state forest directorate had decided not to pose any hurdle to the

roaming herd of elephants in Bankura. Initially, attempts to drive out the

herds towards Dalma were made which didn't yield any fruitful result. The

chief conservator of forests had finally asked all to stay away from any

driving operation in 2007 and no such operation has occurred since.

Last 14 July, the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, while flagging

off the Forest Week celebrations at a programme in Beliatore, further warned

the forest officials to stay away from any move which might disturb the

roaming herds. Mr Bhattacharjee said: " Senior forest officials are having

serious discussions on how to deal with the menace. But, he stated: “In no

circumstance would the state allow the killing or injuring of elephants in

West Bengal.”

 

 

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