Guwahati, 11th August: In a significant move to safeguard wild elephants from electrocution, the Assam government’s power department is set to roll out an awareness campaign aimed at preventing the illegal use of power connections in Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) hotspots. This initiative was announced by Assam’s Power Minister Nandita Garlosa during the inauguration of the ‘HaatiApp’ mobile application and a solar fence manual.
The campaign primarily targets grassroots communities in areas prone to HEC, where residents sometimes resort to dangerous methods, such as using illegal power connections in fences, to protect their lives and property from wild elephant attacks. Minister Garlosa highlighted that despite the reverence for elephants in Assam, the fear of property damage and personal safety has led to these perilous practices.
Expressing optimism about the impact of the newly launched tools, Minister Garlosa emphasized that the ‘HaatiApp’ and the solar fence manual would play a crucial role in mitigating human-elephant conflicts. The power department will spearhead efforts to educate the public about the dangers and legal consequences of using illegal electric connections as a deterrent against wild elephants.
Developed by the biodiversity conservation organization Aaranyak, the ‘HaatiApp’ serves as an early warning system, notifying communities when wild elephants are near human settlements. In addition to alerting residents, the app also features an ex gratia application form, allowing victims who have suffered damages due to elephant encounters to file compensation claims with their respective forest divisions.
Alongside the app, Aaranyak has also released a handbook in Assamese on solar-powered fences, providing vital information on their functioning and maintenance. This manual aims to offer safer alternatives for communities to protect themselves while ensuring the conservation of the state’s revered elephants.
Through these initiatives, the Assam government seeks to foster a more harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants, addressing the root causes of conflict while protecting both communities and wildlife.
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