Palasbari, Oct 25: As the golden paddy fields at Nalapara under Rani forest range in Kamrup district approach the harvesting stage, farmers are watching months of hard work turn into despair as wild elephants raid their fields almost daily.
According to residents, around 40 to 50 wild elephants are currently present in the area, raising fears of further destruction of standing crops. The recurring menace in the Rani forest range has not only threatened agricultural livelihoods but also intensified concerns over the incomplete solar fencing project along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
With the Sali paddy crop nearing maturity, farmers fear that their year-long efforts and investments may go to waste as herds of wild elephants continue to descend on agricultural fields, destroying standing crops and leaving cultivators increasingly helpless. For many farming families, the approaching harvest has become a period of anxiety rather than celebration.
Particularly worrying for residents is the frequent movement of elephant herds through agricultural fields near the Nalapara Beat Office. The presence of around 40 to 50 elephants in the area, as claimed by locals, has heightened concerns among farmers dependent on paddy cultivation. They say the recurring destruction has made farming increasingly difficult, with some even being forced to abandon cultivation because of persistent crop losses.
Adding to the farmers’ distress is the alleged lack of timely intervention by the forest department. Residents claim that forest personnel visit affected areas only occasionally, often after receiving calls from villagers, while on some occasions, no one turns up despite being informed about elephant incursions and crop damage.
Meanwhile, the slow progress of the solar fencing project along the Assam-Meghalaya border has emerged as a major concern. The project, covering around 17 km from Mairapur Silputa to Garopara under the Rani forest range, was initiated to prevent wild elephants from entering agricultural fields and reduce the human-elephant conflict in the border areas.
However, only a little over 3 km of fencing has reportedly been completed so far, while work is yet to begin in certain stretches including Nalapara.
With the harvesting season drawing closer, farmers fear that the delay in completing the fencing will leave their ripening paddy crops vulnerable to further raids. Residents have urged the forest department to expedite the remaining work, particularly in vulnerable stretches, and ensure regular monitoring and maintenance of the existing fencing. Reports of damage to sections of the fencing in areas such as Mairapur and Belguri have also raised concerns over the project’s effectiveness.
Frustrated by the recurring incidents, residents have questioned the functioning of the Nalapara Beat Office and the role of the Rani Forest Range authorities under the Kamrup East Division in addressing the persistent human-elephant conflict. They say the absence of effective preventive measures and prompt responses has added to the hardships of farmers already struggling to protect their crops from repeated elephant raids.
Local farmer Atul Nath said the persistent elephant menace had left him with little choice but to give up cultivation. He alleged that when wild elephants recently damaged a structure used for storing paddy, no forest personnel visited the spot to assess the damage or provide assistance.
“I used to cultivate paddy, but because of the persistent menace of wild elephants, I have been forced to give up farming. It feels as though our source of livelihood has come to an end,” Nath said.
Nath alleged that a herd of wild elephants damaged paddy fields again on Thursday, but no forest personnel had visited the affected area till today. Expressing deep resentment, he questioned the effectiveness of the local forest administration and called for urgent measures to protect farmers and their crops.
Beyond the immediate threat to agriculture, residents have also raised concerns over the alleged illegal felling of valuable trees in the area under the cover of darkness. Some locals have further alleged a possible nexus between forest offenders and personnel associated with the Nalapara Beat Office.
Seeking immediate intervention, residents have urged the forest department to strengthen patrolling, respond promptly to reports of elephant movement and crop damage, and complete the pending solar fencing work. They have also demanded an inquiry into the alleged illegal felling of trees and strict action against anyone found involved.
Farmers have appealed to the Assam Forest Department and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene, ensure accountability among the officials concerned and provide necessary assistance to affected cultivators. They stressed that timely and sustained action is essential to protect agricultural livelihoods, prevent further crop losses and safeguard forest resources.
For the farmers of Nalapara, the coming harvest now carries the threat of another devastating loss. With around 40 to 50 wild elephants reportedly roaming the area, cultivators are anxiously awaiting effective measures to protect the crops that sustain their families.