Shillong, Dec 20: A joint elephant protection committee will be formed between residents living along the Meghalaya-Assam border.
The decision was taken after an awareness programme held in Ketekibari village along the inter-state border organised by the Aaranyak recently, to create awareness on mitigation of human-elephant conflict (HEC) and to promote harmonious coexistence among the villages of both states.
Aaranyak Publicity Secretary Bijay Sankar Bora said residents of Chaplengkata, Thakurbila, Borjhora, including Ketekibari share the inter-state boundary between Goalpara district of Assam and West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and have been facing issues related to the HEC for a long time.
He said the committee will function as an Elephant Conservation Network (ECN).
It was also resolved that villagers from both Assam and Meghalaya will extend support to each other during elephant patrolling and to coordinate to move out the elephant without obstruction.
The meeting also agreed that forest teams will coordinate efforts during patrols.
During the meeting, the Nokmas and people from Garo hills spoke about not receiving HEC mitigation tools from Meghalaya. They requested Assam to provide some support.
Participants from the Assam side requested for more torch lights and solar street lights to mitigate the HEC issues in those areas.
Bora said all the participants expressed their solidarity to the present efforts for mitigating the HEC.
“By engaging in open dialogue and exchanging insights, we hope to create sustainable solutions that benefit both people and elephants in the region,” Bora stated in a press statement.
