With their habitat encroached and paddy crops ready for harvesting, elephants are back to haunt farmers of Rengali and Bamra blocks in the district.
As industrial units have encroached the elephant corridor, the movement of elephants has been affected. They have been sighted on the outskirts of villages under these two blocks.
According to reports, more than 150 acres of standing paddy crops have been damaged in Beunra, Gourdihi, Ghichamura, Gumkarama, Derba, Dhoropani, Teliemal, Basupali, Chandamal, Luhakhandi, Junadihi, Langbahal, Kirabandh, Kinaloi, Thapapali and Bhurispali villages. A herd of 60 elephants is moving in Ghichamura-Phuljhar reserve forest, Beunra reserve forest, Gambharidungri and Gondakona forest under Saradhapali division. The herd has split into groups raiding farm lands.
Although forest officials tried to chase them away by bursting fire crackers and beating drums, it failed to deter them. Sources said people have built machans atop trees and keeping watch on their crops.
The elephants from Badrama reserve forest sneaked through the corridor to Kolabira in Jharsuguda and were returning to Badrama through the same route. But with boundary walls of industries being constructed on the corridor and due to glittering lights of these industries, the animals are losing their way and straying into villages.
Similar reports have also been received from Bamra block where a herd of 80 elephants is moving in villages for the last 15 days.
Bamra ranger Kalicharan Dakua said 40 elephants have been sighted in forests near Gardega village, 16 near Kholbilung and 24 near Niktimal village.
Informing that 45 farmers have till now reported crop loss due to elephants, he said the number of such complaints from other areas is on the rise.
