Wild Elephants from Nepal Wreak Havoc on Farmlands in Uttar Pradesh
A herd of more than 20 wild elephants, originating from Nepal, caused significant destruction to agricultural crops in the Ramuapur village near the Majhgai forest range. This incident occurred during the intervening night between Tuesday and Wednesday, within the North Kheri forest division of Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. Alarmingly, this event represents the second major crop devastation incident reported in the district within just one week.
Extensive Damage and Official Response
Forest officials have confirmed that the elephant herd's rampage impacted over 24 local farmers. The destruction resulted in an estimated 40% to 50% damage to their standing crops, which primarily included wheat, sugarcane, and banana plantations. Forest Range Officer Ankit Singh provided details, stating, "The elephants, which were camping at the other end of the forest range, moved to Ramuapur after protective measures were implemented to deter them from the cropped fields following the initial incident."
This recent attack follows a similar occurrence last week. On February 3 and 4, wild elephants ravaged sugarcane and banana crops spread across 14 acres of land. That earlier incident affected more than 70 farmers in the Bhagwant Nagar and Gulara villages, which are also situated near the same forest range. During that event, a kilometer-long solar fencing, installed as a protective barrier, was also severely damaged.
Farmers' Frustrations Over Compensation Delays
Several affected farmers have voiced strong criticisms against the forest department, accusing it of sluggishness in processing compensation for crop damage. Farmers including Kapil Singh, Ashok Kumar, Hemendra Singh, and Hardwari Lal highlighted that compensation procedures often experience delays exceeding one year. One farmer expressed the collective grievance, stating, "We are not provided any permanent protection from the menace and violent behavior of the elephants. The response and support from authorities are consistently slow and inadequate."
Systemic Challenges in Wildlife Conflict Management
A senior forest official, speaking anonymously, revealed a critical systemic issue to TOI. The official explained that the state government has not allocated any advance funds to the department specifically for compensating crop damage caused by wild elephants. This funding gap has persisted since the notification of the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) norms on December 19, 2022.
According to these established norms, the primary objectives of the TER include:
- The conservation of elephants and their habitats.
- Scientific management of elephant populations.
- Facilitating immediate reparation for farmers without dependence on state government approval for damage assessment amounts.
However, the lack of pre-allocated funds appears to be hindering the effective implementation of these goals, leaving farmers vulnerable and frustrated. The recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced protective measures, timely financial support, and a more robust strategy to manage human-elephant conflicts in the region.
