Berhampur: Wildlife officials have proposed the installation of 24 more solar-based early warning systems in the sensitive locations of Ghumusar north division in Ganjam district to mitigate the human-elephant conflict. “We had installed the system in 26 locations last year,” Himansu Sekhar Mohanty, divisional forest officer (Ghumusar north), said, adding, “We have proposed the govt for installation of 24 more such systems. The system will be installed before the harvesting season to mitigate conflict.”Under the system, a solar based-street light, along with a siren, is installed in a pole at the outskirts of a village identified as vulnerable for the human elephant conflict. When there’s movement of elephants in the area, the villagers are immediately alerted as the siren blares.“At present, 80 elephants are housed in various places in the division,” Mohanty said.Ghumusar north division has witnessed crop and property damage due to the elephant attacks, especially during the harvesting season. Muzagarh, Jagannath Prasad and Tarsingi ranges are identified as human-elephant conflict zones due to their proximity to the dense forest areas of Nayagarh, Baliguda and Phulbani forest divisions.
