Jumbo Death at Patanjali construction site Tezpur

Forest Minister calls for FIR against contractor of Patanjali Mega Herbal & Food Park Tezpur

TEZPUR, Nov 24: The elephant, which had fallen into a pit dug for the construction of the Patanjali Mega herbal and food park yesterday, died after a prolonged struggle around 1 am yesterday

State Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma visited the site and took stock stock of the situation this morning. She instructed the Forest Department to file and FIR against the contractor of the Patanjali Mega Herbal and Food Park and the AIDC, Ghoramari.

It may be mentioned here that three wild elephant and a calf, which were separated from their herd, fell into the trench, causing grievous injuries to one jumbo.

The Forest Minister also Instructed the Patanjali Mega Herbal and Food Park authorities to leave 200 bighas of land from their construction side from their construction site for wild elephants as the areas has long been a jumbo corridor.

“I have Strictly ordered the Forest Department to file and FIR against the contractor engaged in the construction work as the unfortunate incident happened due to indifference in taking precautionary steps like boundary wall and fencing to protect wild elephants,” she said while briefing media persons. The guilty must face punishment, she added.

Brahma pointed out that it is impossible for forest guards to protect elephants in the site as a lot of trenches have been dug. She added that the department has not sufficient staff for regular monitoring. “The Forest Department has decided to deploy a wildlife medical team in the area which can immediate respond before the arrival of veterinary specialists,” the minister said.

Rajen Basumatary, a social worker, said that the elephants frequent the area in search of fodder. “The Forest Department should address the issue properly so that industry comes up and elephants are also saved,” he maintained

Source: Assam Tribune