Conflict between man and the elephant, caused by massive destruction of natural resources and unabated deforestation, has become the order of the day in Srikakulam district. It has claimed the lives of 12 persons and an unspecified number of pachyderms in the last one decade .
The number of elephants has come down to 4 from 11 in the last few years. Some of them died of natural causes and a few others were killed by locals with the help of electrified fences and other traps.
With the forest area 12 shrinking alarmingly, the remaining four female elephants, which came from the Lakheri sanctuary of Odisha, are moving from one end to the other in search of fodder and water. Each elephant needs about 250 kg fodder per day. During summer, when all water sources dry up, the elephants walk all the way to the Vamasadhara River to quench their thirst. This is the worst part of the year for the 1.2 lakh inhabitants of about 100 riverside villages in mandals such as Veeraghattam, Palakonda, Patapatnam, Kotturu, and Bhamini.
Many villagers, especially small farmers, spend sleepless nights fearing crop damage.
Elephant trackers of the Forest Department are trying their level best to alert people after closely observing their movements but their job is made difficult by a few people who reportedly tease the elephants, making them retaliate. In one such incident on March 11, Timpatiguda Kumar, 32,was killed by animals near Rayal Panchayat of Kotturu Mandal. Kesari Thavitayya, 70, who ignored the advice of forest officials, met a similar fate last year. Crop damage is also being reported almost every alternate day.
Official apathy
The Forest Department pays a compensation of about ₹5 lakh for loss of life and in the case of injury and crop damage, the compensation is paid based on assessment reports given by the Revenue Department. In the last 12 years, the department has paid ₹36.13 lakh as compensation for loss of life and an additional ₹42.39 lakh for damage of crops and houses. As many as 400 petitions are still pending with the Forest Department, indicating the seriousness of the problem.
“We have been requesting farmers not to grow sugarcane, maize, mango, cashew, banana and other crops which attract elephants to tribal habitations, but very few are heeding our advice. They can grow chillies, turmeric, ginger, and others which are viable alternatives,” said Ch. Santi Swaroop, District Forest Officer.
‘Operation Gaja’ was proposed a decade ago to meet the situation. The government planned construction of trenches over 60 km but it dropped the idea following objections raised by residents of habitations near hills or on their slopes. However, the government recently decided to go ahead with the construction of trenches at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore.
According to Mr. Swaroop, the construction would be completed fast to confine the movement of the four female elephants to the reserve forest area. The trenches may be developed as water bodies so that the animals do not face hardship during summer. The government recently sanctioned vehicles and equipment to alert people about the movement of the elephants.
The government abandoned the idea of sending them to a zoological park following directive of the Odisha High court which felt that animals could not be bound by geographical boundaries.
Patapatnam MLA Kalamata Venkata Ramana says forest officials are not paying compensation immediately when crop and property damage is reported. “Poor tribals are being forced to make rounds of different departments to get the assessment certificate which is a must for release of compensation. Lack of coordination between the Revenue and Forest Departments has become a bane for tribal people,” he added.
YSRCP State general secretary Reddi Shanti submitted a memorandum to Collector K. Dhananjaya Reddy to look into the issue of alleged inaction on several petitions.
“Delay in assessment will lead to denial of compensation. The Revenue Department should have sympathy for the poor people and ensure immediate payment of the compensation,” she added.
Joint Collector KVN Chakradharababu told The Hindu that he would convene a meeting with revenue officials concerned to thrash out the matter.
