Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Assam’s government is drafting a new Standard Operating Procedure to combat escalating human-wildlife conflicts. Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced the plan on Wednesday, July 15, following a meeting with legislators at the Dispur assembly premises. The state loses nearly 150 lives annually to elephant encounters. These animals also destroy crops and devastate local livelihoods.
The Minister stated the government needs immediate and long-term fixes. "The human-elephant conflict and monkey menace have become major challenges for Assam. We discussed compensation for affected families, crop losses, and both short-term and long-term measures to address the problem," Baruah said. Forest officials and wildlife experts are currently dividing the state into specific elephant management zones to tailor mitigation strategies to local conditions.
The government plans to secure habitats through large-scale afforestation and the removal of forest encroachments. Officials are evaluating the use of solar fencing and bio-fencing, though they warned that poor planning could simply push the conflict into neighboring areas. The Forest Department is also looking into aerial seeding for difficult terrain and planting natural food sources to keep elephants away from human fields.
The policy will address the growing monkey menace as well. This includes potential scientific sterilization programs, though any move requires public consultation and specialized veterinary infrastructure. Local MLAs must submit area-specific recommendations by July 20 or 21. The department expects to finalize the SOP by July 22 or 23.
The state is also overhauling how it handles victims. Authorities are reviewing the performance of Rapid Response Teams and establishing a faster compensation system for losses involving elephants, tigers, and other wildlife. These funds will be managed through District Commissioners to ensure quicker payouts.
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