Skip to content Skip to navigation

18-km-long solar powered fences to protect from wild elephants

By AT News |

Premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak has installed 18 km of solar powered fence to facilitate human-elephant coexistence at Nagirjuli, Baksa. This initiative will ensure food security and substantial decrease in human-elephant conflict incidents, thus directly benefiting approximately 15,000 people of 35 hamlets in 12 villages. The installation of solar-powered fences was conducted with extensive support from local communities and Forest Department, and funded by Elephant Family Foundation India.
The 18 km solar powered fence with two strands has been installed into two phases covering several villages around the Nagrijuli-Udalguri national highway. A 14 km fence was erected from No. 1 Dongargaon to Arongajuli village and the second part of the fence of 4 km length was installed from Piplanee to Serchini village. Five units of solar operated high power fence machines were installed to run the fences.
Nagrijuli area is one of the hotspots of human elephant conflict in Assam; negatively impacting the villagers from every sphere. Before installation of solar powered fence, the people used to have sleepless nights in fear of losing their crops, properties and lives. A direct impact has been seen after installation of the power fence on the community which has improved their daily lives and have a positive social impact.
Local communities participated actively during the installation and the technical know-how & equipment were provided by Aaranyak. Moreover, capacity building training was provided to the local youths for fence maintenance and future sustainability of the same. Five different fencing committees were formed for maintenance of the fence.
On 5th February, 2021, a formal handover programme was organised by Aaranyak at Nagrijuli Police Outpost campus, which was graced by who’s who of the area. An MoU for five years with clauses for maintenance and smooth functioning of the fences was signed by each of the commiittee during the event. Shri Ranjit Basumatary ( BR Ferenga), EM, Forest, BTR, Shri Dharma Kanta Das, EM, Agriculture, BTR and Shri Emanuel Moshahary, MLA, Tamulpur inaugurated the solar-powered fence at the site. The inauguration was followed by a public meeting at the outpost campus, which was attended by Shri Dipul Barman, DFO, Baksa, Mr. Abbas Dewan, ACF, Manas National Park, Shri Kailash Malakar, IC, Nagrijuli, solar-fence committees and local people. From Aaranyak the event was attended Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, CEO & SG, Dr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Head, Elephant Research and Conservation Division, Udayan Borthakur, a senior scientist, Anjan Baruah, an expert on solar fences, Alolika Sinha, a wildlife biologist, Mr. Jayanta Pathak, conservation educator and other researchers and staffs working in Manas landscape. Dr. Namita Brahma, Faculty, TISS and life member, Aaranyak offered the vote of thanks.

Both the EMs, MLA and the local people expressed their gratitude to Aaranyak for undertaking this work, which ensured a peaceful coexistence between human and elephant. Mr. Upen Thapa, a retired teacher from Arangajuli menti

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Patowary elected leader of Opposition

7 Sep 2007 - 2:46pm | pbaruah
Guwahati: A crucial meeting of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator elected Dharampur Assembly constituency MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary as the leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative...

Gloom in Namrup as Tai expert dead

3 May 2018 - 10:20pm | Akshaya Pranab Kalita
Namrup: A pall of gloom descends in Namrup following the sudden demise of Tai expert and historian Kamaleswar Gogoi on Thursday. He is 77 and passed away at a private hospital in Dibrugarh at 8.20 in...

8 died after mushroom consumption

8 Apr 2014 - 10:04pm | AT News
Eights persons died and over ten others have taken ill after they consumed mushroom in five parts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar district on Tuesday.All they were rushed to the Assam Medical...

Madabdev award to Terang, Chutiya

25 Jan 2008 - 2:29pm | editor
Noted Karbi litterateur Rong Bong Terang and Vaishnavite scholar Sonaram Chutiya have been declared the recipients of the prestigious Madhabdev Award. According to information, minister for cultural...

Other Contents by Author

Protester Killed During Violent Clashes in Manipur; Curfew Imposed and Internet Suspended in Seven Districts

Tensions escalated in Manipur’s violence-hit Jiribam district on Sunday night as clashes between security forces and protesters turned deadly, officials reported. A young protester, identified as 21-year-old K. Athouba, was fatally shot amid the chaos. A police official confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine who fired the fatal shot, while protesters allege that a Manipur Police special commando unit was responsible. Two others were reported injured in the incident. The violence erupted as mobs attacked and vandalized properties belonging to political leaders and various party offices. According to police reports, the unrest began at Babupara before spreading to other...

Tiger Carcass Found in Kaziranga National Park

The body of a tiger was discovered in the Horonbali Chapori area of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, located in Assam’s Biswanath district, on Monday. Forest guards came across the carcass during a routine patrol and alerted senior officials, who subsequently arrived at the scene to recover the remains. Preliminary findings suggest that the tiger may have died as a result of a fight with another tiger. To confirm the exact cause of death, samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. The disposal of the carcass was carried out under the supervision of senior forest officials and veterinary doctors. Kaziranga National Park, recognized as a Tiger Reserve...

Guwahati Police Busts Cybercrime Gang, Arrests 8

Guwahati Police has successfully busted a cybercrime gang involved in a major fraud operation. Eight individuals were arrested following a raid at a lodge in Boragaon. The gang was operating a network of "mule bank accounts" to facilitate the transfer of illegally obtained money. The arrested individuals were involved in opening bank accounts using fake identities and documents. They would then hand over these accounts to cybercriminals who used them to launder money obtained through online scams. The police seized numerous items, including mobile phones, ATM cards, cheque books, and electronic devices, from the arrested individuals. A case has been registered against the accused, and...

Government Extends AFSPA in Manipur Amidst Ethnic Clashes

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to six police stations across five districts in Manipur. This decision, effective immediately, will remain in place until March 31, 2025. The affected areas include Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, and Moirang police stations in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, and Bishnupur districts. The extension is aimed at empowering security forces to conduct coordinated operations and address the ongoing ethnic violence and insurgent activity in the region. The MHA's decision follows a comprehensive review of the security situation in Manipur, which continues to be volatile...

Polling for 6 Assam, Meghalaya assembly seats ends largely peacefully

The voting under by-polls in six assembly constituencies of Assam and Meghalaya, conducted to fill up the vacant seats (as the respective legislators had shifted their focus to the national politics after winning the recently conducted Lok Sabha polls), ended largely peacefully on Wednesday evening with a satisfactory over 70% voters’ turn out. The fate of all candidates is stored in the electronic voting machines, which will be opened on 23 November next. Along with these seats, by-polls for over 40 assembly constituencies (along with two Lok Sabha seats) in other parts of India are on the card along with the State assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand before the counting day...

Asam Sahitya Sabha UK Chapter Mourns the Loss of Its First President

It is with deep sorrow that the Asam Sahitya Sabha UK Chapter announces the passing of its first president, Shri Bhuban Baruah, who breathed his last this morning at Bexleyheath, London (1932 - November 1, 2024). The news has cast a shadow of grief over the UK Chapter and the wider Assamese community. Shri Baruah, who emigrated over five decades ago, was a stalwart Assamese by heart and a knowledgeable yet humble individual. Born in Digboi, he pursued higher education at the University of Calcutta, earning his law degree and later completing his Master’s in Law from Banaras Hindu University with distinction. He worked as the Chief Correspondent for the Shillong Assembly before coming to...

Anganwadi Workers Protest Demanding Pay Hike

The Assam State Committee of Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association (ASAWWA) staging a protest in front of the Directorate of the Women and Child Welfare Department in Ujan Bazar, Guwahati on November 4. The protesters demanded the government publish the official notice regarding a proposed salary increase for Anganwadi workers and assistants. The association is advocating for transparency and timely communication regarding the salary adjustments, which are crucial for the livelihood of its members. The protest underscores the ongoing struggles faced by Anganwadi workers in securing fair compensation for their vital contributions to community health and education.

Guwahati Residents Rally Against Tree Felling for Flyover Project

Guwahati, Oct. 29:  A wave of protest swept through Guwahati on Tuesday as concerned citizens gathered at Dighalipukhuri to oppose the felling of numerous ancient trees for the construction of a flyover connecting Noonmati and Dighalipukhuri. Protesters, united under the banner "Save Our Trees, Save Our Heritage," expressed deep concern over the potential environmental impact and loss of the city's natural beauty. They argued that the 200-year-old trees, vital to the ecosystem, act as natural air purifiers, reduce urban heat, and provide a sanctuary for migratory birds. Community leaders and environmental activists have pledged to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to halt...

Awareness Program on Child Protection Held in Baksa

KOKRAJHAR, OCT 28: A significant awareness program was organized on Monday at Jalah Girls’ High School in Baksa district, focusing on child protection mechanisms, human trafficking, and the safety and empowerment of women and children. The initiative was a joint effort by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the ICDS project, Jalah, under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department. Dr. Lipika Barman, the District Child Protection Officer of Baksa (in-charge), presided over the event. Kalpana Das, CDPO of the ICDS Project, Jalah, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the...

8th Chalachitram National Film Festival Concludes, Celebrates Cultural Heritage and Social Awareness

Guwahati: The 8th Chalachitram National Film Festival – 2024 concluded at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on October 27, celebrating diverse cinematic works. Jaswandha, directed by Shoneel Yallattikar, won the Best Film in the rest of India category, while A Sylvan Saga by Jyoti Prasad Das was awarded the Best Film in Northeast India. Das also took home the Best Director award, and Abhijit Nayak received the Best Screenplay award for Wrong Number, directed by Bijit Borgohain. Awards for Best Cinematography went to Angsuman Barua & Pradip Ch Sarma for Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya and Chida Bora & Saril Nandan Deka for Teens of 1942 (directed by Samiran Deka). The Best Editing...