The Kamrup Metro district administration has decided to co-ordinate with all the stakeholders and agencies to reduce the death of elephants in Deepor Beel and Chandrapur area in and around Guwahati.
Deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal has asked the forest department to prepare a report in this regard.
“We have taken the issue seriously – elephants are being killed either by trains or by being electrocuted. For that, all the government agencies and also the public must work together to solve the problem,” said Mittal.
During a meeting with the Northeast Frontier Railways, National Disaster Response Force, department of forest, PWD, police and representatives of NGOs, the issue of elephant corridors was discussed.
“We have asked the forest department to study the issues and reasons on the elephant movement near Deepor Beel and submit a report in the next three weeks. We must solve the issue in a scientific way without disturbing the wildlife,” added Mittal.
The DC also asked the circle officer of Chandrapur revenue circle, Pallab Jyoti Nath to form a coordination committee in the locality involving the representatives of forest department, police, railways and local people.
Deaths of elephants by electrocution have been common in that locality. “We have also asked them for more public awareness campaigns in these areas,” he said.
Forest officials present during the meeting have informed the fellow representatives of the government that 13 elephants were killed by trains from 2004 to 2013.
Representatives of some NGOs present during the meeting suggested that the movement of heavy vehicles should be banned in the evening through the road along Deepor Beel which connects Garchuk to Rani.
Additional DC Pulok Mahanta said that he would discuss the issue with forest department if the human casualties can be announced as part of natural disaster.
