Nagaland seeks Centre’s approval to relocate elephants, convert Doyang Plantation into wildlife division, and enhance compensation for villagers
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KOHIMA — The department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted a proposal to convert the Doyang Plantation Division in Wokha into a wildlife division to mitigate the growing human-elephant conflict. The proposal, which includes plans to relocate wild elephants, is currently under consideration.
Raising a starred question in the Assembly, MLA Achumbemo Kikon stated that out of an estimated 400 wild elephants in Nagaland, around 200 roam freely in Wokha district. He said that during harvest season, elephants regularly damage paddy fields, making life very difficult for villagers.
Environment Minister CL John said that once the proposal is implemented, the department will deploy more forest guards in the area and rope in elephant experts to help with relocation efforts. He added that the department had earlier invited experts from Karnataka, who conducted awareness programmes in affected areas and trained villagers in safety measures.
Also read: Wild elephants cause rampage at Changsu Old village in Wokha
The minister also informed that he had taken up the issue with the central government, including a proposal to increase compensation. However, he said the Centre’s reply was that Nagaland was not entitled because of Article 371(A). He added that a project on elephant-human conflict mitigation has been proposed to the chief minister.
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Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan said that his constituency too has been badly affected; arguing that the state can only accommodate 150–200 elephants given its geographical size, but the population has already exceeded that number.
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He called for population control or relocation. In response, John said the department had applied for elephant population control, but the Supreme Court has ruled against it.
MLA Jwenga Seb urged the department to ensure that all affected villages across the state are covered, to which John replied that the department was addressing conflict areas state-wide.
In his written reply, John stated that the department has requested the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for permission to translocate elephants from human-inhabited areas. He added that research is being carried out under the KfW-funded “Management of Biodiversity in the Himalayas” project for a better understanding of the issue, which is still underway.