The State government estimates that about ₹500 crore is required to complete rail barricading around forests in the State to prevent elephants from straying out.
Of the total 641-km stretch of forest identified to have the rail barricade, the project has been completed for about 310-km stretch. The barricade is being seen as important in the light of increasing man-animal conflict. In the last three weeks, three persons died in elephant attacks in the State. During 2022–2023, of the 51 deaths reported in wild animal attacks, 29 deaths involved elephants.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said that with about ₹1.5 crore required to complete 1-km stretch of rail barricade, the department estimates that about ₹450 crore to ₹500 crore was required to complete the project. “Once the barricading is completed, we expect the casualties can be reduced by 80%,” the Minister said, adding that hanging solar fences were also being used to prevent animals from straying out.
