Life in the Madi area was tense last year when notorious killer tusker Dhurbe ransacked the settlements, killing some people. While park officials are still searching for Dhurbe, there have been reports of a female tusker attacking the villagers.[break]
A solar-powered 39-km electric fence has been erected at 4 village development committees (VDC) of the Madi area.
"The fence was able to hold back the tuskers for two years but after that its repellent strength was easily overcome by them. We will now build a strong barrier around the area," said chief of Baghauda Buffer Zone Consumers Group, Prabhu Prasad Mahato.
The northern region of the Madi area is connected with the park and the adjacent Riu river is the other major attraction luring tuskers into the human settlements.
Barriers with electric fencing along the top have been build in Gopalnagar and Harinagar VDCs of the area and the construction has barred the tuskers all this time, informed chief of Rewa Buffer Zone Consumers Committee, Mukta Raj Lamichhane.
"In our area, we have constructed a three and half km dam with electric fencing and now we need to complete the defensive circuit for the whole area," said Lamichhane.
According to him, a kilometer of electric fencing costs Rs 1,50,000 and constructing a kilometer of barrier will cost around Rs 500,000.
"In order to secure Madi from tuskers, we will need to build a barrier that is at least of six feet high. The whole project will require a heavy sum," said Lamicchhane.
"Besides the barrier we don´t have any other measure to control these recurring tusker attacks," he added.
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