Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma urges the Railways and NHIDCL to build elephant underpasses to curb man-elephant conflicts caused by habitat shrinkage due to border fencing, highways, and railway expansion through elephant corridors.
Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Thursday announced that the Ministry of Railways and the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) have been formally requested to construct elephant underpasses in areas intersecting the state’s elephant corridors. The move aims to mitigate the increasing incidents of human-elephant conflicts that have emerged as a major ecological and social concern in the region.
Speaking to reporters during the Wildlife Week celebrations, Minister Debbarma emphasized the urgent need to protect the natural migratory routes of elephants, which have been severely affected by infrastructural developments and human encroachments.
“Once the elephant corridor of Tripura stretched all the way to Chittagong in Bangladesh. The lush green forests were once a free-roaming zone for elephants. However, after the erection of the barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangla border, the elephants’ original habitat has drastically shrunk,” the Minister stated.
He explained that due to restricted movement and habitat fragmentation, elephants are now confined to smaller forest pockets. This compression of territory often forces them to stray into nearby human settlements in search of food and space, resulting in crop damage, property loss, and sometimes human casualties.
Infrastructure Expansion and Elephant Habitats
According to the Minister, the rapid expansion of railways and national highways through elephant corridors has added to the challenge. Tracks and roads cutting across forest patches disrupt the natural movement of elephant herds, leading to accidents and fatalities on both sides.
“If the proposed underpasses are constructed, elephants can move freely without crossing busy railway tracks or highways, which will drastically reduce the chances of conflict,” Debbarma said with optimism.
Experts Suggest Long-Term Solutions
Wildlife experts have long stressed that elephants follow fixed migratory routes between forest patches in search of food and water. When their natural paths are obstructed or depleted of food resources, they inevitably enter agricultural or residential areas.
Experts recommend that forest food resources be enhanced through the large-scale plantation of banana trees, bamboo, and other elephant-friendly species. This will ensure that the elephants get adequate nutrition within their forest boundaries, minimizing their need to wander outside.
Conservation as a Broader Environmental Responsibility
During the Wildlife Week program, Minister Debbarma also highlighted the state’s rich biodiversity, noting that Tripura is home to over 100 listed wildlife species. He emphasized that protecting these species is not just about wildlife but also about maintaining ecological balance and environmental sustainability.
“Every animal plays a specific role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium. Protecting them ensures that the overall health of our environment remains intact,” the Minister said.
Recruitment Drive to Strengthen Forest Protection
To strengthen the department’s conservation and protection initiatives, Debbarma announced that the Forest Department would soon recruit 194 personnel, including 104 forest guards and 90 forest rangers.
This recruitment drive aims to combat poaching, illegal logging, and unscientific encroachments on forest land, which continue to pose serious threats to wildlife habitats. The new guards and rangers will be tasked with improving surveillance, maintaining forest boundaries, and supporting ongoing conservation projects.
A Step Toward Coexistence
Tripura’s initiative to push for underpasses signals a progressive approach to human-wildlife coexistence. With increasing incidents of wild elephants venturing into villages and farmlands, the state’s call for infrastructural adjustments demonstrates an acknowledgment that development and conservation must go hand in hand.
If implemented effectively, the proposed underpasses could become a model for other states facing similar challenges. As India continues to expand its transport networks, balancing ecological concerns with development remains a critical issue.
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In the long run, experts believe that integrating wildlife-friendly infrastructure, increasing forest food availability, and empowering local forest departments could significantly reduce man-animal conflicts across the Northeast.
The call from Minister Animesh Debbarma thus represents not just a localized policy request but also a symbolic step toward sustainable development—one that respects both human needs and the ancient migratory traditions of India’s elephants.
