AZARA, Nov 4: Protection of ripe paddy from depredation is an elephantine problem for farmers in the Greater Azara area on the outskirts of Guwahati. Already a farmer lost his life while chasing an elephant away. The situation has come to such a pass that farmers have to pass sleepless nights at machangs (tree-top shelters) to chase elephants away.
Elephant herds from Rani and Garghbhanga reserve forests destroy ripe paddy at various places from Lokhara – Ahomgaon, Pamohi, Moikhorong, Sokordou, Patgaon and Sajjpara along the Assam-Meghalaya border – to Rani – at a time when paddy is ready to be reaped. On October 17 this year, a farmer from Hatimaraghuli, Gipth Sangma, was killed by an elephant when he was trying to chase the pachyderm away. Of late, elephants destroy paddy during the day and at night.
Ripe paddy at places near Rani – Puran Sukurbariya, lapara, Bikrampur, Mahindri, Belguri, Jaipur, Tangonpara, Hatimaraghuli, Sajjpara, Gopati, Patgaon, Sokordou etc., areas – have been badly affected by elephant herds.
Meanwhile, higher-ups in the Forest Department have asked Rani Forest Division to take steps to protect farmers and their crops from elephant depredation. West Guwahati MLA Ramendra rayan Kalita also appealed to the Forest Department to protect crops from elephant depredation. However, the ground situation is far from being under control.
