JORHAT, Nov 16 - Expressing concern over the rising incidents of man-elephant conflict on both the banks of the mighty Red River, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar today said that he had taken personal initiative to release funds for undertaking compensatory afforestation in an effort to provide necessary fodder for the marauding elephants.
�The number of wild elephants are on the rise. Hence, if they can find the required fodder in the jungles, then they will not raid paddy fields and human habitations,� said Javadekar.
He informed that necessary initiative was taken by him to release Rs 40,000 crore for the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which, however, was not released to the States since the last 10 years by the Union Government. �I placed a Bill in Parliament for the purpose,� he said.
Asked about the possibility of largescale plantation of fig, banana, bamboo and such other vegetation for the elephants in the barren sandbars of the Brahmaputra, Javadekar observed that such an idea may in fact help to reduce incidents of man-elephant conflict in the State.
During his visit to the Jorhat-based Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI) today, Javadekar interacted with several tree-growers, members of Joint Forest Management Committee, farmers, representatives of industry and artisans. He asked the RFRI authority to concentrate on extensive research work so that the farmers can be immensely benefitted by the Institute.
