The Forest Department has stepped up measures to curb human‑elephant conflict in parts of Khowai district, introducing elephant‑proof trenches and solar fencing around vulnerable villages, officials said on Thursday, reporting a marked drop in elephant incursions into inhabited areas. District Forest Officer Ashok Kumar said these interventions are part of a broader effort to protect lives, crops and property near Tripura’s only elephant corridor in Khowai.
District Forest Officer Ashok Kumar said elephant‑proof trenches (EPTs) constructed near vulnerable settlements have already shown encouraging results in restricting the movement of wild elephants into inhabited areas. EPTs are deep, wide ditches designed to act as physical barriers that deter elephants from entering villages and farmland.
“After the trenches were created around elephant movement zones, incidents of elephants entering nearby villages have reduced considerably,” Kumar told reporters. He added that the impact is particularly visible in localities such as Bhumiheen Colony and Chakmaghat, where frequent elephant forays had previously caused serious concern among residents.
In addition to trenches, the department has begun installing solar‑powered fencing in villages deemed highly vulnerable to elephant depredation. “Solar fencing work is currently underway in North Krishnapur and South Maharani areas, which are among the worst‑affected zones in terms of elephant movement and crop damage,” Kumar said, while noting that the system’s performance is still being evaluated.
“We have recently introduced this mechanism, and its long‑term impact is yet to be assessed,” he added, underlining that solar fencing is a complementary, not yet fully proven, tool in the district’s mitigation mix.
The Forest Department has also strengthened field monitoring by setting up six anti‑depredation camps across sensitive areas. Volunteers deployed at these camps track elephant movement and alert villagers as needed. “Earlier, the camps were planned as round‑the‑clock watchtowers. At present, manpower is being mobilised depending on the situation and movement patterns of elephants,” Kumar said.
Khowai district’s corridor status means several villages regularly face crop damage and property loss from elephant movements, and officials say continued monitoring and a combination of physical barriers and community vigilance are central to reducing conflict.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/tripura/tripura-forest-department-installs-trenches-solar-fencing-to-curb-elephant-conflict-in-khowai.html
Category: Environment,Northeast News,Top News,Tripura
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Publish Date: 2026-05-15 00:05:00
