Dhanbad forest department is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to avoid human elephant conflict in villages lying along the migratory route of tuskers.

The district forest department is having solar lights installed in such villages as street lights and also distributing torches to villagers in a bid to keep the elephants away. They are also checking dams and increasing vegetation in the forest area to ensure the sufficient food and water is available for them within the forest.

The idea of having solar lamps and torches to make night visibility better for the villagers to spot tuskers at night. Also, the bright light would help in keeping the elephants away from areas inhabited by humans.

Talking to The Telegraph Online today, Vimal Lakra, Divisional Forest Officer of Dhanbad, said, “We have installed solar street lights in about 100 villages of Tundi, Topchachi and also some parts of Dhanbad block that lie in the vicinity of the jumbo migratory routes.”

“We have simultaneously distributed torches to the residents of these villages so that they are better equipped on the visibility part while venturing out of home during the night,” said Lakra. He added the elephants do not prefer venturing out towards human habitations and like to be confined to the forests.

Elaborating on the drive, Vinod Thakur, Tundi Forest Ranger, said, “We get funds for 50 solar lights every year in our block which is the most preferred destination for elephants in Dhanbad due to the presence of dense forest. We install solar lights in villages which are most prone to elephant straying.”

Elaborating on preferring solar light instead of electric polese, he said, “We don't need electricity for these panels, hence they don't need to be turned on or off. Also we won’t have to worry about power cuts.”

“Besides installing new solar street lights we are also concentrating on maintaining the existing street lights in these villages,” said Thakur.