Bhubaneswar (PTI): The ongoing man-elephant conflict had its echo in the Orissa assembly on Thursday with nearly two dozen members cutting across party lines expressing concern over the growing jumbo menance in different parts of the state.

The issue was raised during zero hour with members, both from the ruling BJD-BJP and opposition Congress, CPI and JMM, demanding amendment in the relief coDe for giving adequate compensation to tHe affected people, mostly farmers.

The members urged speaker Maheswar Mohanty to issue a ruling to forest and revenue departments to take steps to help the victims of the elephant menace.

'The elephents have killed at least nine people in Subarnapur district during a span of two years and the victim's families are not given any assistence by the government', said Sadan Naik adding neither the forest department nor revenue department takes any responsibility to help the poor people.

Ruling BJD member and former minister Balabhadra Majhi from Kalahandi district said the tribals were most affected by the elephant menace while the government had no package for the victim's families. He claimed that at least seven people were killed in his district in recent times.

The BJD's Mohan Majhi from Keonjhar district narrated how two elephants had taken the role of MVI (motor vehicle inspector) and RTO (road transport officer) as they (jumbos) used to check passing vehicles.

+The people have named the elephants as MVI and RTO as they do not attack people but snatch away food items from them,+ Majhi said adding this showed how the elephants face food scarcity inside jungles.