Chief Minister Dr. Yadav took strict steps on the incident of death of elephants in Umaria

Bhopal. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that a state level elephant task force will be formed in the state. Elephant friends will be made to ensure elephant-human co-existence. In areas where there is more movement of elephants, there will be a system of solar fencing to save the crops of the farmers. Along with this, efforts will be made to connect farmers with agro-forestry and other alternative works apart from agriculture. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in the coming time, such forest areas will be developed in Madhya Pradesh, in which the feeling of co-existence with the settlement of elephants can be strengthened. Discussions have also been held with the Union Forest Minister in this regard. He will guide so that the Forest Department can take concrete action in this area. In the districts where elephants are living in forest areas, elephant friends will work for public awareness.

The incident is sad and painful, forest officials should be alert and vigilant

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav has said that the incident of death of 10 elephants on different days in the forest area of ​​Umaria district in the state is sad and painful, which the state government has taken seriously. A team of senior officials including the State Minister of Forests has visited the area. No pesticides have been found in the preliminary report. The detailed report of the post mortem is yet to come. The incident of arrival of a large group of elephants is also a new experience in the last two-three years. The presence of a large number of elephants is seen in Umaria and Sidhi districts. In such a situation, the field director and other officials need to be alert and vigilant.

Suspension of guilty officials

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the field director did not return from leave at the time of such a big incident of death of elephants and the necessary concern that should have been taken in the context of the arrival of groups of elephants in the past was not taken. Field Director Shri Gaurav Chaudhary has been suspended for this negligence. Along with this, in-charge ACF Mr. Fateh Singh Ninama has also been suspended.

State officials will go to Karnataka, Kerala and Assam to study

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Bandhavgarh area and other forest areas have favorable and attractive conditions for elephants to live. Due to the excellent management of forest areas, the elephant groups that used to come from Chhattisgarh and other states and go back are not going back now. A situation of elephants camping on a large scale is being seen here. This has become a part of the activities of the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. In such a situation, keeping in view the movement of elephants, a decision is being taken to form an elephant task force at the government level for permanent management naturally. A plan is being made for how elephants should take precautions in living with other wild animals. Best practices of Karnataka, Kerala and Assam states will be included in this. A large number of elephants live in these states. Officials from Madhya Pradesh will be sent to these states, so that on the basis of the spirit of coexistence, a study will be done to ensure that the rest of the human life in the buffer area and core area is not affected by elephants. There should be no threat to the safety of elephants. We have seriously considered this. We have experienced one more thing. The crops in the plains outside the nearby buffer area will be protected by arranging solar fencing or solar panels. This will also be a means of protection for humans. The forest department has been told how to protect the agriculture being done in such areas. It has to be ensured that elephants are not able to destroy the crops. This is a matter of concern as well as awareness. The participation of the rural community in the buffer area can ensure the coexistence of elephants and humans, so that they can learn to live with each other.

Decision to give Rs 25 lakh per person on loss of life

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in the incident that happened in Umaria district, Rs 8 lakh was given to the family of the person who lost life, now it has been decided to increase it to Rs 25 lakh per person. Two people have died in this incident, their families have also been included in this. By connecting the private sector of the forest area in other ways in agro-forestry, farmers will be encouraged to do other works besides traditional farming. This will help farmers to connect with the arrangements of the forest area instead of taking normal crops and take advantage of it.

Experts will be invited to implement important measures

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that it has been decided to radio track the elephants who roam alone in the forest area and get separated from their group. By tracking them, they can be monitored. In future, care will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. This will be a concrete action in this direction. Experts will be invited to implement other such important measures. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that efforts will be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The group of elephants has started living permanently in Madhya Pradesh, hence cooperation is expected from the general public as well. In the districts where elephants reside, efforts will be made to create public awareness through the district administration for better management and necessary information will be given to the people. Just as tigers and other wild animals reside permanently in the state, now elephants have also become a part of our forests.