Ranchi, Aug 24: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday directed officials to prepare detailed maps of all elephant corridors in the state and take measures to prevent disruptions to wildlife movement.
Soren issued the directions while chairing the first meeting of the governing body of the Jharkhand CAMPA State Authority, where officials reviewed compensatory afforestation, forest conservation, wildlife protection and ongoing development programmes in forest areas.
The chief minister called for an effective strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict and stressed that forest conservation and development activities must be pursued in a balanced manner.
He directed officials to ensure that all CAMPA-funded schemes are implemented within the prescribed timeframe, according to standards and with transparency. He also stressed regular monitoring of plantations to ensure that saplings survive and develop into mature trees.
Soren called for greater emphasis on soil and water conservation and asked officials to include medicinal and wildlife-friendly plant species in afforestation programmes.
On elephant conservation, the chief minister directed authorities to identify and map sensitive areas and ensure that traditional elephant corridors are not obstructed. He said wildlife habitats and movement routes should not be unnecessarily disturbed.
He also called for suitable engineering solutions in areas where infrastructure projects are unavoidable. In elephant corridors requiring road construction, elevated road structures could be considered to allow animals to move safely, he said.
The chief minister further expressed concern over activities such as mining, excavation and crusher operations in forest and hilly areas, saying development projects should be planned while keeping their impact on wildlife habitats in mind.Forest department officials informed the meeting that modern technology was being deployed in sensitive areas to improve monitoring of elephant movement.
Thermal and infrared cameras are being installed in areas including Ramgarh, Bokaro and Chakulia, they said.
According to officials, the system will generate alerts when elephants are detected. Sirens can be activated locally, while registered residents in vulnerable areas will receive real-time mobile messages about elephant movement. Information will also be transmitted to concerned departmental offices to facilitate timely intervention.
Soren also reviewed the status of CAMPA projects, including available funds, expenditure, quality of work and progress on the ground. He directed officials to strengthen monitoring and fix responsibility wherever projects face avoidable delays.
The chief minister said Jharkhand’s forests and natural resources were an important heritage for future generations and called for coordinated efforts to protect the environment while meeting development needs.Senior officials from the state government, forest department and other departments attended the meeting.
