SHILLONG, FEB 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday told the Assembly there are six notified elephant corridors in Meghalaya and three more are being proposed, but he cautioned there is “no 100 percent measure” to stop herds that have used the tracks “for years and centuries.”
Responding to NPP legislator from Kharkutta Rupert Momin, who raised crop damage from elephants migrating from Assam, Sangma said the state is focused on minimising risk.
“Balance needs to be struck… awareness is conducted on regular basis, voluntary protection squads are supported,” he said, adding that food plantations along corridors are being used to create a “sausage barrier” to reduce encounters.
On Momin’s request for a wildlife office at Wageasi-Dainadubi, the CM said beat and range offices are under examination with planning and finance departments.
UDP member O Suin described a year-long herd damaging paddies, arecanut and houses in Mawsynram. Sangma replied the department will “definitely examine” extending project support and noted a beat office at Ranikor has been proposed.
“I will take details from the MLA and we will do whatever to protect people and crops and also elephants,” he said.
The CM listed four wildlife sanctuaries—Nongkhyllem, Siju, Baghmara, Narpuh—and two national parks, Balpakram and Nokrek, adding that two more sanctuaries at Baghmara and Riatkhwan are being considered.
On catchment protection raised by UDP’s Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, he said Mawkyrwat and other district sites are under review, with Shillong and Tura catchments already protected.
Sangma highlighted anti-poaching patrols, inter-agency intelligence, seizures, prosecutions, community reserves and volunteer squads as part of broader preventive measures to the available species in the state.
