Khowai, March 3: In a significant move to address rising human-wildlife conflict, Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma announced that t...
Khowai, March 3: In a significant move to address rising human-wildlife conflict, Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma announced that the state government will construct four dedicated elephant passes at Mungiakami in Khowai district. The initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted and safe movement of elephant herds across the notified corridor.
Mungiakami, situated along the foothills of the Atharamura range, has been officially recognized as an elephant corridor due to frequent herd movement in the region. The decision follows heightened concern after two elephants were killed in separate train accidents in 2024, exposing the vulnerability of wildlife in areas witnessing rapid railway and road expansion.
According to the minister, the Forest Department has initiated the process of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR), which will include technical assessments, herd movement mapping, and structural design suitable for the terrain. The proposed elephant passes are expected to function as underpasses or overpasses along railway tracks or highways, allowing herds to cross without risk.
Debbarma indicated that more such mitigation structures could be developed in other sensitive stretches if required. He emphasized that future infrastructure projects must incorporate wildlife safety measures at the planning stage itself, rather than as an afterthought.
The department is also engaging with agencies executing large-scale railway and
roadway projects to ensure that provisions for wildlife movement and, where necessary, rehabilitation of affected villagers are built into project frameworks. The issue has been formally taken up with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to strengthen policy-level coordination.
Earlier in the day, while inaugurating a workshop on human-animal interaction, the minister underscored the ecological risks posed by habitat fragmentation. He warned that continued disturbance of forest corridors could destabilize biodiversity and upset the broader environmental balance, calling for science-based, long-term conservation strategies.
