Elephant menace: Villagers block Padanthurai Road in Nilgirs
UDHAGAMANDALAM: Traffic came to a standstill on the Padanthurai Road in the Nilgiris for a few hours of Wednesday as people staged a protest demanding that the forest department relocate elephants that have been straying into their villages in Gudalur taluk.
The protest was sparked by CCTV footage that went viral on social media on Tuesday night, showing two elephants breaking down the gate of a building in the Padanthurai area.
The Padanthurai Road serves as a crucial link to Devarshola and Kerala.
The protesters were from Padanthurai, Kampadi, Kuchimuchi, Anjukunnu, Devarshola, Kottaimattam and Keniyanvayal villages.
“We have been facing issues with wild elephants straying into our villages, damaging our farmlands and crops. At times, they pose a threat to our lives,” a protester said
They added, “Despite several petitions to the forest department, the issue has not been taken seriously. Just last week, an elephant killed a man in the Devarshola area. We have been requesting the department to desilt the existing elephant trenches to prevent their movement into human habitats.”
The situation escalated in the Gudalur area after a roadblock was held, leading to heightened tensions and calls for immediate action to ensure residents' safety.
Officials from the forest and revenue departments held discussions with the villagers. After the forest department offered several assurances, the villagers dispersed, and the police cleared the traffic.
According to a press release from the Gudalur division of the forest department, plans are in place to desilt and maintain the existing elephant trenches. A village committee will be formed soon, comprising representatives from the local community, officials from the revenue, police and forest departments and panchayat councillors.
The committee will inspect vulnerable areas and identify locations for new elephant trenches, as well as develop scientific methods to prevent elephants from straying into human habitats. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure public safety with community involvement.
“We are doing our utmost to address crop damage and minimize the straying of elephants into villages,” said a forest official.
The protest was sparked by CCTV footage that went viral on social media on Tuesday night, showing two elephants breaking down the gate of a building in the Padanthurai area.
The Padanthurai Road serves as a crucial link to Devarshola and Kerala.
The protesters were from Padanthurai, Kampadi, Kuchimuchi, Anjukunnu, Devarshola, Kottaimattam and Keniyanvayal villages.
“We have been facing issues with wild elephants straying into our villages, damaging our farmlands and crops. At times, they pose a threat to our lives,” a protester said
They added, “Despite several petitions to the forest department, the issue has not been taken seriously. Just last week, an elephant killed a man in the Devarshola area. We have been requesting the department to desilt the existing elephant trenches to prevent their movement into human habitats.”
The situation escalated in the Gudalur area after a roadblock was held, leading to heightened tensions and calls for immediate action to ensure residents' safety.
Officials from the forest and revenue departments held discussions with the villagers. After the forest department offered several assurances, the villagers dispersed, and the police cleared the traffic.
According to a press release from the Gudalur division of the forest department, plans are in place to desilt and maintain the existing elephant trenches. A village committee will be formed soon, comprising representatives from the local community, officials from the revenue, police and forest departments and panchayat councillors.
The committee will inspect vulnerable areas and identify locations for new elephant trenches, as well as develop scientific methods to prevent elephants from straying into human habitats. Additionally, measures will be implemented to ensure public safety with community involvement.
“We are doing our utmost to address crop damage and minimize the straying of elephants into villages,” said a forest official.
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