Skip to content Skip to navigation

Rapid deforestation causes man-elephant conflict - Daimari

By Jayanta Kumar Das |


At a time when most of the forests of Udalguri district had been encroached by human settlrment,destroying all the existing habitats and elephant corridors,including historic Samran elephant corridor on Indo-Bhutan international border,a few positive steps has been taken by Udalguri district administration headed by Deputy commissioner SS Meenakshi Sundarm and Bankim Sarma,DFO of Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri to end so called man-elephant conflict in the district.An district based awareness meeting on so called man-elephant conflict was arranged at Panery forest office premises on May 5 with day long programme.Rihan Daimari, Minister PHE Assam;Santis Kunjur,EM,BTC;Mitha Ram Basumatari,EM,BTC;Kamali Basumatari, MLA, Paneri;Pradip Dimari,MCLA,BTC;PK Mahanta,ADC,Udalguri,Bankim Sarma ,DFO,Udalguri and Dr.Anupam Sarma,coordinator,WWF Landscape Programme, Assam attended the meeting.Representatives of several organisations including Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society also attended the meeting besides several distinguished media persons and thousands of people.


Bankim Sarma,DFO,Udalguri in his welcome speech explained about the immediate need for taking measures to end the man-elephant conflict in the district causing deaths of 31 people by wild elephants during 2002 to 2009.He also said that the number of deaths were alarming in the sense that it also caused the deaths of more than 12 wild elephants during 2007 to 2009 either by electrocution and poisoning excluding two wild elephants which were seriously injured but teated by forest department. According to him 12 persons had been killed by wild elephants during the year 2009.Moreover 248 numbers of people had either been injured or lost their houses and property during the said period.According to him most of the people had been killed for venturing into forests for collectinting firewood. In his inaugural speech Rihan Daimari,Minister PHE Assam remarked that rapid deforestation had caused the conflict not only in Udalguri but in other districts of Assam.He disclosed that government of Assam would soon implement a few new schemes for the restoration and conservation of existing forests areas including the elephant corridors.The Minister requested the people not to disturb the wild elephants by constructing electric fencing or by poisining.He thanked DC and DFO of Udalguri for immediate arrangement of exgratia payment of Rs.40,000 each to the kith and kins of the killed people.He also said that IAY houses had also been provided to the victims.


Kamali Basumatari,MLA Paneri constituency also addressed the meeting saying that lack of food had compelled wild elephants to come down to villages (once belonged to them) in search of food.Dr.Anupam Sarma of WWF India while addressing the gathering informed about the role played by WWF.He assured that they would launch a few programmes in Udalguri district very soon for the restoration of man elephant relation.He said that until and unless forest areas were reserved for wild elephants,the conflict would continue.Mitha Ram Basumatari,EM,BTC also addressed the meeting.


The Minister and other VIPs distributed valuable local tree saplings along with the cheque of Rs.40,000 each to the kith and kins of 49 people killed.Moreover exgratia grant of Rs.2000 to Rs.5000 were also paid to 249 people.Depredated people of Udalguri have expressed happiness at the government arrangements and vowed to protect wild elephants in the comming days.


Author info

Jayanta Kumar Das's picture

Environmental journalist.

Add new comment

Random Stories

CM calls Himanta selfish

25 Aug 2015 - 4:36pm | AT News
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday called Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma an opportunist and selfish who lacked ideologue.Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Gogoi said,” a real Congress leader cannot join...

Uneasy calm in Churachandpur

12 Sep 2015 - 5:11pm | AT News
The calm is uneasy in Churachandpur after the recent orgy of violence where 8 people lost their lives when Manipur assembly passed three controversial bills.Women groups have been staging dusk to...

Third Phase of Panchayat Polls Going on

9 Jan 2008 - 3:15am | editor
Amid an elaborate security arrangement 42 lakh voters are voting on Wednesday in the third phase of panchayat polls. the polling began in the morning to end at 5 in the evening. Asa many as 38,000...

4 Assam candidates clears Civil Service Exams, 07

17 May 2008 - 8:50pm | editor
It’s good news for people of Assam. Four candidates from the soil of Assam have cleared Civil Service Examination, 2007. The results of the examinations conducted by the Union Public Service...

Other Contents by Author

Astronomy advocate UN Deka passes away

Noted astronomy advocate of NE and secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association, Guwahati Planetarium Uday Narayan Deka breathed his last in the ICU in International Hospital, Guwahati on Thursday at 12.20 am. He had been suffering from kidney related ailments for last twenty days.He was born on September 8 in 1944.He had been working in RBI in Mumbai for twelve years till his joining in RBI Guwahati branch as a Manager.During his stay in Mumbai,he was elected as the Hony. Treasurer of Bombay Amateur Astronomers Association.In 2002 he was elected as the secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium.He was responsible for organising...

Noted astronomy activist UN Deka passes away

Noted astronomy activist of NE and secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium Uday Narayan Deka breathed his last in the ICU in International Hospital, Guwahati today at 12.20 am.He had been suffering from kidney related ailments for last twenty days.He was born on September 8 in 1944.He had been working in RBI in Mumbai for twelve years till his joining in RBI Guwahati branch as a Manager.During his stay in Mumbai,he was elected as the Hony. Treasurer of Bombay Amateur Astronomers Association.In 2002 he was elected as the secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium.He was responsible for organising village...

Newly wed burnt alive in Udalguri

In a very tragic and barbaric incident, Puspanjali Das (19)wife of Chandan Debnath of Thakuriapara village under Bhergaon sub-division in Udalguri district has been burnt down alive on Saturday noon for non-payment of marriage dowry. The incident has shocked the district. The lady was put in a sac before thrown in a fire lighted in a heap of hay. Puspanjali was married to Chandan just three months bac. Narayan Debnath, father-in-law of Puspanjali has been arrested while trying to flee but all the family members managed to flee before being caught. Pranjal Bora, SDPO, Bhergaon told Assam Times that none involved in the incident would be spared.  

Octogenarian Music Maestro Sisir Kumar Suni

Music legend of undivided Darrang (presently Darrang, Udalguri and Sonitpur) Sisir Kumar Suni is now 84 years old being confined to his home only.He is still optimistic about systemic research and practice of traditional folk culture of Assam in their original style.Although forgotten by present day singers and producer directors of Assamese music world,Suni still busy with his never ending musical activities alone in his home at sleepy Bengbari just five KM away from Tangla town.Age could have restricted his bodily movements,but his talent and spirit still busy looking for new ideas.It had been his effort that Bodo folk dance "Kherai" was performed on stage for the first time during 1955."...

Asom Diwas celebrated at Bhergaon

Asom Diwas was celebrated at sub-divisional HQ Bhergaon in Udalguri district with gaiety in memory of Chaolung Sukapha on December 2 with day long programme.The programme was organised by Bhergaon sub-divisional administration in association with Udalguri district administration.The celebration started with garlanding of the image of Sukapha at 10 am by DN Hazarika,ADC, Udalguri cum SDO (Civil),Bhergaon followed by an open discussion session on "Role of Sukapha in forming a greater Assam'.Noted teacher Binoy Kumar Medhi,retired  vice principal of Tangla College attended the discussion session as the appointed speaker.Speaking on the occasion,Medhi highlighted role of Sukapha in forming...

Bhairabkunda calling you

With the arrival of picnic time,Bhairabkunda,with all her virgin beauty is once again ready to welcome tourists and picnic lovers.Bhairabkunda has been a tourist destination since long back.But the tourist traffic flow had been disrupted during the days Assam and Bodo movements in eighty’s and ninety’s.But with peace returning to BTAD area people have started visiting Bhairabkunda again.Bhairabkunda has been unique always as the triangular meeting point of Assam,Arunachal and Bhutan.Fast flowing Dhansiri river  with crystal waters has been additional attraction always.The JFMC man made forest (Gedsimani Forest) with more than 14 lacs well grown tree saplings has been additional bonus...

Kalaigaon girl's achievement lauded

Ajanta Devi,daughter of a villager of Balipota village near Kalaigaon has secured first class first position in Anthropology from Guwahati university in the recently declared MSc final examination.She has also been awarded  Manju Rani Goswami Borkakati Memorial Gold Medal by Guwahati university recently on November 26 in Guwahati.Her achievement has been lauded by the people of Kalaigaon as she is belonged to a family living in a remote village.She is the daughter of Basundhar Nath and Madhabi Nath of Balipota village near Kalaigaon.DN Hazarika,ADC,Udalguri;NC Boro,Inspector of Schools,Udalguri; president of Udalguri District Journalist Union etc  have congratulated her and...

Udalguri HS without science and Maths teacher for four years

At a time when government has been launching various new educational schemes for the benefit of the students and thousands of teachers are also being appointed,the plight of the students of a provincial High School in Udalguri district is telling other story.Situated in a remote village,ten KM away from Tangla town and fifteen KM from Kalaigaon town, Dhopguri High School has been running without even a single science or mathematics teacher for last four years ie since 2012.No science or mathematics classes had been held in class IX and X in the school during the period.The shocking news has come to light recently when students of the high school staged a demonstration in front of visiting...

“Assamese language had to pay price for political blunder”:Sabha secretary

”The passing of Assamese Language Bill in Assam Legislative Assembly while late Bishnu Ram Medhi was the Chief Minister of Assam,without consulting a few great tribal leaders of Assam who used to speak in Assamese language in Assam Assembly had been one of the causes for which Assamese language lost the faith of non Assamese tribal leaders during sixty’s”,so said Dr.Paramananda Rajbongshi, secretary of Asom Xahitya Xobha at the concluding session of the silver jubilee celebration of Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj,a branch of Asom Xahitya Xobha at Kalaigaon on November 19.Dr.Rajbongshi in his speech as the chief guest of the open session also appealed all the people of Assam to adopt Assamese...

Silver jubilee celebration of Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj at Kalaigaon

The silver jubilee of Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj of Kalaigaon has been commencing at Kalaigaon with the hoisting of 27 number of Sabha flags on November 18 at 9 am.Twenty five distinguished people of Kalaigaon hoisted all the flags celebrationg completion of glorious twenty years of the branch of Asom Xahitya Xobha.Prominent among them were- Abul Hussain,president and Mahendra Saikia, founder president of the Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj, Kalaigaon; Jagadish Sarkar,EM,BTC;Maheswar Boro,MLA, Kalaigaon; Nabin Chandra Boro,Inspector of Schools, Udalguri etc. Earlier senior journalist Mukut Raj Sarma, secretary of the celebration committee welcomed all the guests with gamocha and spoke about the...