In the wake of growing elephant-human conflicts reported in the forest borders, the Kerala Wildlife Department has decided to erect solar fencing to protect people from elephant menace.
The fencing work is planned to be completed within three months and the future maintenance will be done by the Janakeeya Samithies, the people forums comprising local people and outfits, sources said.
Wild jumbos straying into human settlements are reported mainly in the northern districts like Wayanad and Palakkad.
They mainly enter in plantain farms and cultivated areas.
They attack humans who come in their way also, locals said.
Fed up with the animal interventions, villagers are using crackers to chase away the elephants. They also make trenches.
But forest officials said such steps would pose threat to the lives of the animals. To avoid such situations, the department is planning a number of projects including the setting up of solar fencing, creating 'elephant corridors' and
building of artificial water pools inside the forest, sources said.
"A total of Rs 50 lakh has been allotted for the solar fencing project. It will be distributed to the elephant-hit districts according to the destruction. Of that Rs 8 lakh will be allotted to Palakkad district alone," a top forest official said.
Around 25 kilometres of forest region in Palakkad will be covered by solar fencing, he said.
Special squads comprising forest officials, police personnel and local people will also be formed across the state to reduce human-animal conflicts.