A 7-km long community-managed single-strand solar-powered fence that has been installed by Aaranyak in association with Forest Department will protect life, property and livelihood of about 170 families besides around 500 bighas of cropland in human-elephant conflict (HEC) affected No.3 Kundarbil village in Udalguri district of Assam.
The solar-powered electric fence, a proven tool for mitigation of HEC, was formally handed over to the community during an inauguration ceremony held on December 28 last. This solar fence installation was funded by SBI Foundation under a project on mitigating human elephant conflict in the region.
The Village Council Development Committee (VCDC) chairman of Kundarbil, Patrosh Daimary inaugurated the fence in presence of around 100 people at Rupa L.P. School, No.3 Kundarbil ground. He expressed his gratitude to Aaranyak and Forest Department for providing support for mitigating HEC and safeguarding people’s well-being.
Aaranyak’s solar fence expert Anjan Baruah led the installation of the single strand fence with support from Aaranyak’s Abhijit Saikia, Mandeep Basumatary, Dibakar Nayak, and Bikash Tossa along with the villagers.
During the inauguration, Baruah interacted with the villagers and explained in detail how to maintain the fence for ensuring longevity and promoting human elephant coexistence.
An MOU was signed between the solar fence committee, Forest Department and Aaranyak before handing over the fence to the community.
A team from Forest Department led by Bir Bahadur Mogor from Shantipur Beat, VDP Secretaries Tanka Bahadur Sonar and Dhan Kumar Ray, and a social worker Sanjay Daimary attended the meeting held for the inauguration ceremony which also was attended by Rabiya Daimari, Reshma Narzary, Rupam Gayary and Pradeep Barman of Aaranyak. The meeting was presided by Raju Ray and moderated by Krishna Darjee of the solar fence committee.