Wild elephant menace continues in Rani area; memorandum submitted to CM   

PALASBARI, June 14: The menace of wild elephants continues unabated in the greater Rani area on the western outskirts of Guwahati, causing widespread panic and damage to property and agricultural fields. From Jobe Patgaon near Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar to the Assam-Meghalaya border areas of Nalapara, Belguri and Garopara, herds of wild elephants have been frequently entering villages and creating havoc.

Incidents of elephants damaging granaries, consuming stored paddy, destroying residential houses, cowsheds and crops have become a regular occurrence in the region. Although forest personnel led by the regional forest officer of Rani have been making efforts to protect residents from the elephant menace, the measures have reportedly failed to provide a permanent solution.

Seeking the intervention of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, a delegation of local residents from the Rani area met Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar on Friday and submitted a memorandum through him to the Chief Minister.

The delegation, comprising farmers and residents from several villages under the Palasbari constituency including Rani, Nalapara, Belguri, Moirapur, Bikrampur, Puran Sukurboriya and Manikpur Khapegaon, highlighted the severe impact of the continued elephant intrusion on agriculture, property and the livelihood of local people.

In the memorandum, the residents urged the government to take immediate and permanent measures to address the issue, reduce human-elephant conflict and ensure adequate compensation, protection and support for the affected families.

Minister Pijush Hazarika assured the delegation that he would soon discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and work towards finding a practical and long-term solution to the growing elephant menace in the region.