Sajanagad/Kaptipada: Elephants from Jharkhand that entered Nilagiri area in Balasore five days ago continued to damage crops, a report said Sunday.
Paddy in acres of land close to Tinikosia forest was extensively damaged. People living in Sataranda, Hatimunda, Teraldihi, Dalkisahi and Bhalukasuni near the forest have been spending sleepless nights and lighting torches all through the night to ward off the marauders.
Following a directive from DFO Biswaraj Panda, over 100 officials and members of Sabuja Bahini were deployed in the area to keep track of the pachyderms.
Over 50 forest officials from a Bhubaneswar-based training centre arrived here Sunday to train people how to behave during the anti-elephant drive and maintain coordination with the forest officials.
It is said that the 58-member elephant herd is not scared of solar fencing. The elephants even cross trenches, it is learnt.
Many villagers still recall the loss inflicted by a herd in the area 15 days ago. Presence of more elephants in the area has become a cause for concern for the local people.
Meanwhile, a report from Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj district said there is no let-up in elephant menace in the area. A herd of pachyderms strayed from the Similipal sanctuary and damaged paddy in large tracts of land at Hudisahi in Labanyapur panchayat Saturday night. This has left the farmers worried. Local farmers claimed that though the forest department pays compensation for the crop loss, the amount is not commensurate with the loss.
Sita Murmu, a farmer, filed a complaint with the Baripada divisional forest officer in this regard.
Elephants had damaged paddy in four acres two days ago. Villagers demanded immediate assessment of the crop loss and the right amount of compensation. They also urged the department to take effective steps to contain the menace.
PNN