Raisuan: Even as elephant menace has increased manifold in various parts of Keonjhar district, some farmers have stepped up their vigil on the animals from treetop houses set up near forests.
The pachyderms have been damaging paddy, mustard and vegetables in Kusumita, Baradapal, Netigutha and Salarapentha.
As harvesting season draws closer, the area has been witnessing visits of elephants at night more frequently than ever before, farmers said.
The forest department has been urged to contain the elephant menace, but its efforts have hardly been successful, the farmers alleged.
“We have raised crops with a lot of labour. How can we bear with the animals trampling and damaging the crop every day? We have to spend sleepless nights at treetop houses near our farmland at night,” some farmers said. Those who have been raising crops have to struggle a lot to save their crops from the marauding elephants, the framers added.
Farmers in various parts of Harichandpur block were also affected by the elephant menace.
Two herds of elephants recently went on a damaging spree in villages under Balibandh and Bamebri forest ranges.
Farmers in Jaypur, Naupani, Hatidari, Chimpinda, Bamandiha, Kaliapal, Basantpur, Rugudisahi, Naibuga and Dhanurjaypur were worried over their damaged crops.
PNN