Orissa moots master plan to minimise man-animal conflict

Bhubaneswar, Aug 8 (UNI) The Orissa government was chalking out a master plan to conserve and protect all wild animals and to minimise the man animal conflict.

'' We cannot reserve an area to protect a particular species of animal but are chalking out a strategy to protect all wild animals.

At the same time we are also trying to minimise the man animal conflict, '' Orissa Secretary for Forest and Environment H K Panda said.

Mr Panda's reaction came in the wake of criticism from the wildlife lovers on the state government's decision to withdrew its proposal for two elephant Reserve Projects - Baitarani Reserve Project and South Orissa Elephant Reserve Project.

The wildlife lovers also apprehended that the withdrawal of the projects would adversely affect the conservation programme and increase the man animal conflict.

'' If we declare an area as a sanctuary we have to displace 10,000 people staying inside the forest. We cannot do that, '' Mr Panda said.

The Forest Secretary said as per the latest census the number of elephant population in the state was around 1900, far better than other state. The male female ratio of elephants in the state stood at 1:2.5, which was also very ideal, he said adding there was no need for concern.

The government, Mr Panda said, had planned to start trench fencing around the forest of over 1900 km after the rainy season and provide assistance to open dairy farms to people staying close to the forest.

The initiatives besides giving employment to people would minimise the man-animal conflict, he said.

In a bid to help the elephants move freely, the government was also considering to approach the authorities to construct fly over or subways while laying roads in the forest area to avoid the elephant corridor, the Forest Secretary said.

UNI