Elephants destroy sugarcane crop in Haldwani villages

HALDWANI: Wild elephants trampled sugarcane crop in villages adjacent to forests in Haldwani area of Nainital district on Monday night.

The angry farmers have demanded the forest department to shoo way elephants from their villages.

According to locals, a herd of elephants entered Tezpur Negi village adjacent to forests under Haldwani range of Terai Central Forest division on Monday night.

The elephants entered fields and trampled sugarcane crop.

The villagers claimed that more than 8 to 10 acres of sugarcane crop has been destroyed by the elephants.

Ramesh Chandra Kabidyal, a farmer said, elephants entering fields has become a routine in Tezpur Negi and nearby villages. “Wild elephants enter our fields in search of food and destroy crops,” he said.

Pradeep Singh Negi, another villager, said, “There is no effective system to check movement of elephants from forests to villages. When elephants venture into villages, the forest department briefly increases patrolling.”

The farmers have urged forest officials to assess the crop damage and ensure they get compensation.

Chandrashekhar Joshi, divisional forest officer (DFO) Terai Central, said, “A solar

Compensation will be given to farmers after inspecting the damaged crop. The forest department pays ₹25,000 per hectare for the destruction of sugarcane crop CHANDRASHEKHAR JOSHI, divisional forest officer

fencing between the forest and the village was damaged. It is being repaired. The proposal for the construction of an elephant wall has been sent to the government.”

He said instructions have been given to concerned forest officials to increase patrolling. “Compensation will be given to the farmers after inspecting the damaged crop. The forest department pays ₹25,000 per hectare for the destruction of sugarcane crop,” he said.

The aggression of elephants in Uttarakhand’s Corbett landscape, Rajaji National Park landscape and Tarai areas has been a major concern for wildlife officials here.

Elephants regularly create ruckus in and around Haridwar, Nainital, US Nagar districts, leading to traffic interruptions and damage to vehicles.