MIRZA, Feb 8 - Altogether 761 people were trampled to death by elephants in Assam between 2010 and 2018, and 249 elephants were also killed in the same period. The Assam government has given compensation to the tune of Rs 857.80 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased persons. This was stated by State Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya while replying to a query of Chhaygaon LAC MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed in the Assam Assembly on Thursday.
Talking to this correspondent, Ahmed said number of deaths of people by elephants has been increasing year after year in Assam due to the utter failure of the State government and that mere compensation would not solve the man-elephant conflict in the State. He said the government must take strong measures to eliminate the man-elephant conflict in the State.
�In the year 2017-18, the highest number of persons (202) was killed by elephants in the State during the last nine years, followed by 151 in 2016-17,� Ahmed said.
According to data provided by the Forest Minister on the floor of the House, altogether 202 people were killed in Assam by elephants in 2017-18, 151 in 2016-17, 35 in 2014-15, 80 in 2013-14, 61 in 2012-13, 93 in 2011-12 and 74 in 2010-11.
On the other hand, altogether 120 people were injured in Assam by elephants in 2017-18, 119 in 2016-17, 60 in 2014-15, 117 in 2013-14, 59 in 2012-13, 86 in 2011-12 and 64 in 2010-11. Dispur has provided compensation to the tune of Rs 74.45 lakh to the injured persons.
On the other hand, 92 elephants were killed due to electrocution, followed by train accidents in which 54 elephants were killed in the State. Thirty elephants succumbed to poisoning while 20 elephants died due to poaching in Assam. Thirty eight elephants suffered accidental death while 15 died due to injuries.
On the measures taken to mitigate man-elephant conflict, Suklabaidya said anti-depredation squad has been formed in each district of the State.
The Assam Forest department in association with WWF has trained up village defence party (VDP) personnel for reducing man-elephant conflict and organised awareness camps in the vulnerable areas. Solar fencing has also been erected in few of such areas in the State.
The Minister also put stress on shifting the Azara�Kamakhya rail line from the south side of the Deepor Beel to the north side of the beel in order to reduce the death of elephants due to collision with speeding trains.
Ahmed said elephant depredations at the villages located near the reserve forests are mainly caused due to massive felling of trees, encroachment, shifting cultivation, etc.
