Guwahati: The Assam Power Department will launch an awareness campaign aimed at preventing electrocution of wild elephants due to illegal power connections, Minister Nandita Garlosa said here on Saturday.
This initiative targets grassroots communities in hotspots of human-elephant conflict (HEC), where residents sometimes resort to illegal electricity connections in fences to protect themselves and their property from attacks by wild elephants.
Speaking at the launch of the HaatiApp mobile application and a manual for solar fencing, Garlosa stressed that while elephants are revered in Assam, fear for life and property has driven some people to take dangerous measures.
The Minister assured that the Ministry of Energy will actively work with communities in the areas affected by the HEC to raise awareness of the risks and legal consequences of using illegal electricity connections.
Garlosa expressed confidence that both the HaatiApp and the manual would contribute significantly to curbing HEC.
The “HaatiApp” (Elephant App), developed by the biodiversity organization Aaranyak, aims to serve as an early warning system and alert communities to the presence of wild elephants near human settlements.
The app also contains an application form that victims of elephant theft can use to submit their compensation claims directly to the respective forest authorities. Aaranyak supports them in this process.
In addition to the app, Aaranyak has compiled a detailed manual in Assamese on solar-powered fences, which are touted as an effective and humane means of containing HEC.
The manual provides comprehensive information on the benefits of solar fences, the function of each component, and the procedures for installation, management, and maintenance.
Published August 10, 2024, 5:15 p.m. IS
