Solar fencing erected in Tirunelveli to prevent invasion of wild animals
Staff Reporter
More such work to a length of 30 km likely this fiscal: Minister
Safety measure: A fence erected near Adavinainar Kovil Dam, Maekkarai, near the Western Ghats.
TIRUNELVELI: The perennial man-animal conflict on farmlands and invasion of wild animals upon cultivated lands in the district may soon become history. The Department of Forest has put up a solar fence to a length of 31 km on the foothills of Western Ghats. It is also planning to put up fence for a length of 30 km during the current fiscal.
According to sources, complaints would pour in from farmers in Sivagiri to Panagudi during grievance day meetings.
They would report crop damage owing to invasion of wild animals and seek compensation.
The ryots used to plead with the district administration to erect solar fence to stop wild animal incursion.
Following the plea, it was decided to put up a solar fence with low voltage power to keep animals such as elephants, sambar, wild boars, spotted deer, etc. away from the ranches.
The following areas are expected to benefit out of the new facility: Adavinainar Kovil Dam area near Maekkarai (fence has come up for 9 km at a cost of Rs. 14.4 lakh), Kadayanallur (13 km at a cost of Rs. 20.8 lakh), Sankarankovil (4 km at a cost of Rs. 6.4 lakh), Deviyaar Peat of Sivagiri (4 km costing Rs. 6.4 lakh) and Project Elephant of Sivagiri Range (1 km at a cost of Rs. 1.6 lakh).
According to the Minister for Forest, N. Selvaraj, who recently visited the district, solar fencing would be provided for another 30 km the current financial year .
Meanwhile, the Department of Forest has also started disbursing compensation to farmers.
It has so far disbursed a sum of Rs. 4.14 lakh. While six farmers of Courtallam range received Rs. 21,455, 20 persons of Sivagiri area received Rs. 1.85 lakh.
As many as 14 farmers of Kadayanallur received Rs. 1.87 lakh and Chelliah of Sankarankovil range, who suffered a fracture to his hands, received Rs. 20,000.
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