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In view of the increasing threat posed by wild animals the wildlife department decided to erect solar fencing around inhabited areas.
Wild elephant (Creative Commons)
Solar fencing is likely to give solace to the residents of some forest-fringe villages of Kerala’s high-range Idukki district, where normal life is largely affected due to the frequent straying of wild animals.
In view of the increasing threat posed by wild animals, especially jumbo herds, the state wildlife department has decided to erect solar fencing for 21 kilometres around inhabited areas in the district.
A special team of forest personnel will also be deployed in villages like Chinnakkanal and Shanthanpara to drive away straying jumbos back to forests.
The decisions were taken during an all-party meeting held under the aegis of Forest and Water Resources ministers in Idukki on Tuesday, 31 January.
The meeting was held in the wake of huge protests staged by locals seeking a permanent solution to prevent elephant herds from entering the area and wreaking havoc.
Forest Minister AK Saseendran said the special team, led by well-known veterinarian Arun Zachariah, would reach Idukki within two days to tackle aggressive elephants, which used to roam around the villages in the district.
Urgent steps would be taken to erect a 21-kilometer-long solar fencing around the inhabited areas, which face the wildlife attack the most, the minister said.
To further strengthen the surveillance, high-mast lights and cameras would be installed in the area after including them in the Idukki Development Project of the government.
The meeting also decided to set up additional Rapid Response Teams (RRT) along with the existing ones to deal with the wildlife menace.
Directions have also been given to enhance the compensation given to the victims of wildlife attacks by two percent, official sources added.
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
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