Forest Minister Orders Rapid Response Team
to Curb Wild Elephant Menace in Dodamarg
Mumbai, April 4 : To mitigate the damages caused by wild elephants to farmers in Dodamarg taluka of Sindhudurg district, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has directed the formation of a Primary Rapid Response Team. He also instructed officials to prepare a detailed plan to relocate the elephants to the protected zone around the Tilari Dam.
A review meeting chaired by Minister Naik was held at the Mantralaya to address the wild elephant menace in the Dodamarg area. The meeting was arranged at the request of former Minister and MLA Deepak Kesarkar. Present at the meeting were Milind Mhaiskar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department, Shomita Biswas, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Vivek Hosing, Deputy Secretary, and B.V. Ramarav, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, among others.
Minister Naik stated that wild elephants are causing significant damage to farmers’ crops in Sindhudurg. A comprehensive action plan should be drafted by the Forest Department to manage the situation. If elephants are retained in their natural habitat, they will avoid entering human settlements. Hence, in the protected area of the Tilari project, trees such as bamboo, banana, and jackfruit should be planted to ensure food availability for the elephants.
Additionally, the Forest Department should plan fencing along railway tracks in regions with elephant movement. The elephants should also be monitored using radio collars, and the department should seek technical guidance and trained manpower from the forest departments of Karnataka and West Bengal.
Minister Naik further directed that a proposal be submitted to increase compensation for crop loss caused by wildlife, and that bamboo cultivation should be included in the compensation scheme.
MLA Deepak Kesarkar highlighted the losses faced by farmers in Dodamarg and requested urgent action to resolve the issue.
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