Forget naxalites, here’s a real jumbo problem

Sujay Mehdudia, The Hindu
April 21, 2009

The Maoists may have hogged the headlines in these elections, but in the forests of Jharkhand bordering West Bengal and Orissa, it’s the elephants that are a bigger problem.

Ever since Jharkhand became an independent State in 2000, rampaging elephant herds in the forest areas have claimed nearly 800 lives. They are a source of concern to the authorities conducting the polls in tribal areas.

In fact, even the city of Jamshedpur has not been left untouched; all along the Dumka, Sahibgang, Jamshedpur-Dumka and Chaibasa belt and in the Shikaripada and Jamtara areas, the jumbo problem is a serious one, and the villagers are demanding protection from the animals.

The herds march through the jungle areas unhindered and destroy standing crops, houses and claim human lives on their way. People in these areas live in fear, and despite efforts by the administration to deal with the situation, nothing has changed for them. “The State has a forest cover of around 32 per cent and this enviable situation has become a curse for the villagers living in the forest tracts along the borders of West Bengal and Orissa,” according to Raj Singh Munda of Singhbhum.

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