Community Solar Project Takes Shape in Assam to Address Man-Elephant Conflict

Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley which has been prone to elephant-human conflict for quite some time now, has launched a new initiative that employs solar lighting, solar fencing and community education, to stem the challenge of conflict between elephants and human beings.

The project is gaining support from the British Asian Trust, Aaranyak (BAT-Aaranyak), which is a research-based biodiversity conservation organisation, has adopted a community-driven approach for the challenge that has led to a at least 90 human deaths over the last three months. The organisation has joined hands with the Forest Department for the initiative.

“Aaranyak is working with local communities to create change which helps protect both people and elephants,” informed Aaranyak’s senior scientist Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar.

The challenge is further accentuated by the absence of street lights in the village area, making it difficult especially for women to venture out in the night, when they often encounter wild elephants.

Solar-powered fencing in hotspots has been installed to mitigate the problem. Solar lights have also come to the rescue of the villagers.

In cooperation with the British Asian Trust, Aaranyak is also working on a project that encourages the coexistence of humans with elephants in areas where the conflicts arise. Towards this, another 90 solar street lights have been procured.

Notable progress has been made on this front. In the villages of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts so far, 73 solar street lights have been installed. 17 more solar lights are to be installed in Majuli district.

In the Jorhat districts, the villages of Sagunpara (7 units), Hatisal (5), Sumani Chapori (1), Major Chapori (1), Bejorchiga (5), Koibartagarh (1) have been equipped with solar lights.

Solar lights have also been established in the Sadia sub-division of Tinsukia, at Padumfula (five), Na-Basa Gaon (four), No. 2 Bacha Gaon (five), Hallow Gaon (one).