GUWAHATI, Nov 25 ? The State Government has decided to form a task force to suggest ways and means to preserve elephant habitats with the objectives of reducing the ever-increasing man-elephant conflict besides protecting endangered species and promoting conservation.
This was decided at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Wildlife held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today, an official release said.
The meeting, attended by wildlife experts, officials from both the State and the Central Governments, and leading NGO representatives, was unanimous in its opinion that immediate clearance of the encroached elephant habitats was a must to mitigate the man-elephant conflict.
The man-elephant conflict in Assam has witnessed an alarming increase in the past few years, with some 45 people getting killed every year. Similarly, a number of elephants too have added to the casualty list. The State at present has over 5,500 wild elephants and 1,200 domestic elephants.
The Chief Minister said that the task force would survey the number of elephants in the wild and suggested measures regarding their relocation in less-populated areas. He said that he would also move the move the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment for permission to capture wild elephants so that they could be sent outside the State for engagement. He further stressed the importance of joint forest management (JFM) committees in involving the people in conservation, which would also ensure their means of sustenance.
As per the Sahi Commission recommendations, 200 elephants were to be allowed to be captured every year, but the Centre has permitted capturing of 25 elephants only. The Forest Department, under the Animal Fodder Programme, would start providing fodder to wild elephants to prevent them from raiding croplands.
The issue of rehabilitation of the evicted people from the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park also came up in the meeting, and the Chief Minister directed the Tinsukia district administration to expedite the rehabilitation process in the Dibang proposed reserve forest (PRF), for which an amount of Rs 5 crore is needed. About 10,000 people, mostly from two tribal villages inside the Dibru-Saikhowa would now be resettled in Dibang PRF.
Forest Minister Pradyut Bardoloi gave an account of the progress being made in the expansion drive of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP). This would result in the total Park area going up to 660 sq km. The KNP Director, NK Vasu, said that the extended portion of Kaziranga would open up the restricted elephant corridors.
Protection of fast-dwindling species like river dolphin, golden mahseer, pigmy hog and adjutant stork also figured in the deliberations. The committee advised the State Government to move the Centre for funds to save the river dolphin from extinction, as it does not fall under the protected areas.