Bhubaneswar, May 28 (IANS) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of human-elephant conflict in Odisha, alleging that the present state government has failed to protect elephant corridors, conserve forests, and manage wildlife habitats effectively.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJD Senior Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra said incidents of human deaths, crop destruction, and damage to houses caused by elephant attacks have increased alarmingly in the state, especially in districts such as Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, and Khordha.
Mishra alleged that unscientific mining activities, large-scale deforestation, and unchecked developmental projects in elephant movement zones have forced elephants to stray into human settlements in search of food and water, thereby endangering human lives and livelihoods.
Citing official figures, he said Odisha’s elephant population stood at 2,103 as per the 2024 elephant census.
However, nearly 185 elephant deaths were reported in the last two years, making Odisha one of the states with the highest elephant mortality rates in the country.
Mishra also added that electrocution, train accidents, poaching, dehydration, shortage of fodder, and acute water scarcity inside forests were among the major reasons behind these deaths.
The BJD leader further claimed that human-elephant conflict in Odisha has reached an alarming level, with 171 human deaths and around 500 injuries reported due to elephant attacks during 2024-25.
He said 523 people have died in wildlife attacks in the last three years, including 443 deaths caused specifically by elephants, while 264 elephant deaths were also recorded during the same period.
Mishra stated that Odisha now records 17 human deaths per 100 elephants, the highest in India.
He also alleged that funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) were not being utilised properly for elephant habitat conservation, conflict mitigation, water management, and fodder development.
Highlighting measures taken during the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, Mishra said initiatives such as the identification of elephant corridors, the installation of solar fencing, the implementation of elephant-tracking systems, and the enhancement of compensation for affected families had been implemented.
He demanded immediate legal protection for all identified elephant corridors, scientific monitoring and early warning systems in elephant movement zones, adequate compensation for affected families, and the formation of district-level task forces for effective wildlife management and public safety.
The senior BJD leader also urged the state government to stop unscientific mining and the destruction of forests in wildlife-sensitive areas.
–IANS
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