Farmers' association in Coimbatore sceptical of installing steel wire fences along forest fringes to prevent human-animal conflict
A farmers' association in Coimbatore has expressed scepticism over the effectiveness of steel wire fences at select stretches of Coimbatore Forest Division to prevent human-animal conflict.
Referring to two stretches identified for installation of steel wire fences along a 10-km distance from Thondamuthur in Boluvampatti Forest Range and Thadagam in Coimbatore Forest Range, P.Kandasamy, State general secretary of Vivasayigal Sangam said the Forest Department ought to evaluate the utility of the project rather than implementing it for the sole reason that funds have been sanctioned.
A sum of ₹7 crore has been allotted by the Government for the project, it is learnt.
While the iron fencing has been found to be useful along the plains abutting the forest, the utility is low at 'bottle-neck' points where wild animal intrusions happen mostly, Mr. Kandasamy said.
He referred to the instance of Bannerghatta National Park where, in addition to the different types of physical barriers: solar electric fences, elephant proof trenches, rubble walls, concrete walls, concrete moats, spike pillars spike gates and mesh barriers, the Forest department in Karnataka was also exploring the utility of railway line barrier, by using steel rails from old railway tracks.
The August 2024 report of a study carried out under Project Elephant, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and Wildlife Institute of India, suggesting measures to mitigate Asian Elephant-Train collisions on vulnerable train stretches also throws light on the effectiveness of railway line barrier.
The Forest Department had, during April, stalled works on steel wire fencing in deference to a directive of High Court.
The petitioner had called for stoppage of the works till elephant corridors are established.
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