In a decisive move to address the escalating human-elephant conflict in southern Madhya Pradesh, the state cabinet has approved a Rs.47 crore mitigation plan aimed at safeguarding both rural communities and wildlife.
The initiative, cleared on Tuesday, focuses on regions where wild elephants frequently traverse forest corridors and enter farmlands, rural properties, and tribal settlements—often causing extensive crop damage, property loss, and posing threats to human lives.
Announcing the plan, Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson Kailash Vijayvargiya said that local farmers and rural populations in elephant-prone zones will be trained to handle sudden elephant encounters. These training programs will equip them with techniques to safely deter elephants and minimize losses related to crops and livelihoods. Forest officials report that over 150 wild elephants regularly inhabit the Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves. Many migrate from neighbouring Chhattisgarh, often straying into human settlements and leading to increased risk of conflict.
To tackle this, the state’s multi-pronged strategy will combine traditional deterrents with modern technology. Measures include chili-based barriers, citrus plantations, trip alarms, and bee-hive fences—proven low-cost methods that discourage elephants from approaching human habitats.
The Forest Department will lead the project, promoting coexistence through a mix of community engagement and technological solutions. These include radio bulletins, WhatsApp alerts, and a 24×7 control room to keep villagers informed about elephant movements and provide real-time guidance.
In a forward-looking step, the plan also incorporates AI and satellite-based tracking systems to monitor elephant herds and issue early warnings to at-risk areas.
The urgency of the situation was underlined by a tragic incident six months ago, when 11 elephants died after consuming fungus-infected Kodo crops—allegedly sown by local farmers. In retaliation, one elephant killed two people, sparking intense debate and prompting the government to fast-track mitigation efforts.
Additional elephant presence has been confirmed in the forested zones of Rewa and Shahdol divisions, highlighting the need for proactive and sustained intervention across the state.
(With IANS inputs)