MP approves Rs 47 crore human-elephant conflict mitigation plan

IANS May 13, 2025 319 views

Madhya Pradesh has approved a Rs 47 crore plan to tackle rising human-elephant conflicts in tribal regions. Farmers will be trained in non-lethal deterrents like chili fences and trip alarms. The plan includes AI-based tracking and WhatsApp alerts to warn villagers about elephant movements. This initiative follows recent fatal clashes, including an incident where elephants died from toxic crops, sparking retaliatory attacks.

"The state is implementing tech-based measures like radio bulletins, WhatsApp alerts, and a control room to guide villagers on elephant encounters safely." – Kailash Vijayvargiya
Bhopal, May 13: To reduce the recurring conflicts between humans and elephants, especially in southern Madhya Pradesh, where these animals frequently traverse a specific forest corridor and raid farmland, rural properties, and houses in the state, the government has come up with a Rs 47 crore Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation plan.

Key Points

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Rs 47 crore plan to reduce elephant-human clashes in MP

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Farmers trained in chili-based deterrents and AI tracking

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Over 150 elephants migrate from Chhattisgarh to Bandhavgarh

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Tech alerts via WhatsApp and radio to warn villagers

The state cabinet approved the plan on Tuesday.

As part of this initiative, local farmers and rural communities in areas prone to elephant encounters will be trained in effective strategies to handle sudden attacks.

They will learn techniques to safely drive elephants away from farms and minimise losses related to crops, property, and livelihoods, Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

According to forest officials, over 150 wild elephants regularly inhabit the Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves. These elephants often migrate from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and enter human settlements, particularly tribal villages, increasing the risk of confrontation, crop losses, property damage, and safety concerns.

The project combines traditional and innovative methods, including chili-based deterrents, citrus plantations, trip alarms, and bee-hive fences.

Led by the Forest Department, it promotes coexistence by reducing conflict while ensuring both human and elephant welfare. A recent incident highlighted the urgency of managing this conflict.

Six months ago, 11 elephants perished after consuming a fungus-infected Kodo crop, allegedly cultivated by farmers. In retaliation, an enraged elephant trampled two individuals to death. Following this tragedy, the state initiated discussions on implementing effective elephant management strategies.

“The state is implementing tech-based measures such as radio bulletins, WhatsApp alerts, and a dedicated control room to inform villagers about elephant movements and guide them on handling encounters safely,” the Minister said.

The plan will also include the use of AI or satellite-based monitoring of elephant movements so that farmers can be alerted in advance.

Additional elephant populations have been identified in the forested regions of Rewa and Shahdol divisions, further underscoring the need for proactive measures.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Finally some concrete action! The chili-based deterrents and bee-hive fences sound promising. But will the compensation reach farmers on time when damage occurs? That's equally important. Hope they implement this properly 🤞
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Priya M.
As someone from MP, I've seen how terrifying these encounters can be. The WhatsApp alerts are a smart move - most villagers have smartphones now. But training is crucial. Elephants are intelligent; we need to understand their behavior better.
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Amit S.
47 crores seems like a lot of money. While the plan is good, I hope there's proper auditing. We've seen how wildlife funds get misused. The AI monitoring part sounds fancy but will it actually work on ground?
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Sunita R.
Heartbreaking to read about those 11 elephants 😢 We're encroaching on their habitat and then punishing them for surviving. The citrus plantations idea is brilliant - provides income for farmers and keeps elephants away. Win-win!
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Vikram J.
Good initiative but what about long-term solutions? Need to protect elephant corridors properly. My cousin in Bandhavgarh says construction projects are cutting through traditional elephant routes. Prevention is better than mitigation!
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Neha T.
The tribal communities have lived with elephants for generations. Instead of just training them, the government should also learn from their traditional knowledge. Modern tech + ancient wisdom = best solution 🙏

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Tags:
human-elephant conflict MP wildlife Bandhavgarh Kailash Vijayvargiya elephant conservation forest department