Tennessee : A panel from the Forest Department outlines plans to address the conflict between people and animals in Valparai
Tennessee : In order to address the increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts in the Valparai plateau, a six-member committee led by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has started holding coordinated consultations with various government agencies and estate authorities. The committee is currently finalizing its recommendations before submitting them to the government.
At the Valparai Municipal Commissioner’s office, the panel, led by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests S. Rama Subramanian, met with representatives from the labor, tax, police, and municipality agencies to conduct a review.
The topics of discussion included strengthening waste management systems, enhancing basic infrastructure on tea estates, and implementing preventative efforts to reduce human-wildlife encounters.
Although the state government has given the committee a total of 15 days to deliver its conclusions, officials said the group is anticipated to finish its report by the end of the week after integrating comments made during the meeting.
As part of its urgent recommendations, the committee gave the labor department instructions to make sure estate managers give workers, especially migrant laborers living in forest-fringe regions, with basic facilities including sufficient lighting, working restrooms, and a safe living environment.
The main causes of animal assaults were found to be inadequate infrastructure and low visibility surrounding inhabited areas.
Instead of letting trash build up in open areas for extended periods of time, municipal authorities were urged to remove it as soon as possible. Conflict is more likely when accumulated trash draws wild animals into human settlements.
Additionally, the municipality has been instructed to improve cleanliness, lighting, and solid waste management, including the removal of solid trash produced by visitors to Valparai.
Committee members toured a number of tea farms in the last week, including Iyerpadi estate, where a leopard assault killed an eight-year-old kid. Other estates were also inspected to see if basic amenities and worker safety measures were available.
The Sakthi estate concept, which offers workers extensive facilities, is being replicated in other estates around the area, according to a committee member. Additionally, members of an NGO have been enlisted to teach migrant workers the dos and don’ts of avoiding confrontations with animals.
“Human-animal conflict in the Valparai region has resulted in the deaths of over 60 people in the past 18 years,” the official said.
In times of crisis, estate officials have looked for more personnel and cars to drive away untamed elephants.
In order to enhance visibility and assist locals in identifying the movement of creatures like sloth bears and leopards close to their dwellings, the panel has also directed estate managers to cut shrubs up to 30 to 40 feet on both sides of workers’ residences.