The progress of an elephant wall construction in Aralam will be directly assessed on Friday, along with a site inspection led by MLA Sunny Joseph and District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, said Forest and Wildlife Minister A.K. Saseendran after a review meeting at the Kannur Collectorate conference hall on Thursday.
A meeting will be held with those involved in the construction and the inspection will also determine if other areas are facing similar wildlife threats.
As a measure against the increasing human-wildlife conflict, a 10-day special drive, with as may as 50 local residents participating, will be conducted to clear the undergrowth in Aralam.
The Minister said that funds from the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme will be used for the initiative. Additionally, the district panchayat and Aralam grama panchayat have sanctioned ₹36 lakh for installing a five kilometre solar hanging fence, which will be completed soon.
Ayyankunnu panchayat president Kuriachan Paimpaliikunnel asked for immediate action after concerns on wild animalsbeing driven from Aralam into Ayyankunnu were raised. The Minister assured thatvigilance measures would be extended to all affected areas.
Mr. Saseendran assured that round -the -clock patrolling by the police and the Forest departemnt squads will be ensured in the area.. A monitoring committee including local self-government representatives has been formed with Mr. Joseph as the convener to oversee the implementation of the decisions.
The Minister emphasised that resolving human-wildlife conflicts require public cooperation. He said that the problem can be solved only if the people, officials, and administration stand together.
Published – March 06, 2025 11:55 pm IST
