Come winter. Palamu tiger reserve gets on its job of mitigation. Wild life like elephants and wild boars cause damages to crops of the growers. Paddy farmers remain restive till the harvested ones don't reach the barn. 

PTR launched a 2 pronged programme. First to refresh the awareness about the wild life human conflict. Second to mitigate the sufferings. 

It is holding awareness drive among the villagers. To minimise wastage of crop by the elephants, PTR is exploring how far solar light be helpful in shooing the elephant. 

JREDA (Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency) will provide 2,000 solar light systems to the tiger reserve Palamu. 

Deputy director north division of PTR P K Jena told this correspondent today "JREDA has agreed to give us 2,000 solar light systems. We first wrote to the DC Latehar who forwarded our request with a very strong recommendation for solar light systems to be provided for the PTR". 

"These solar light systems will not be lighting village roads or alleys." Jena explained. 

"We will be using it for lighting entry points and critical points of the passage of the elephants" Jena clarified. 

He said "Little over such 60 entry and critical points have been located and identified where these solar light systems will be installed."

On being reminded that solar batteries are stolen to which Jena said "We are aware of it. We will ask our eco development committee for safeguarding batteries and other accessories for solar light system."

Solar batteries are not insured and hence when stolen or damaged replacement becomes a very rare thing said sources. 

Jena said "Once we get success in guarding our 60 entry and critical points, then we will push off for solar power driven bio fencing to avert raids by the elephants and the wild boars."

It's the elephants that are invariably described as a major crop raider. 

Jena said "We need to correct this perception. Wild boars and monkeys are no less evil so far crop raiding is concerned."

Chhipadohar range of the tiger reserve Palamu is very vulnerable to raids by the wild boars and monkeys. 

The far flung Kutku range is also a badly affected range of wild boar and monkey menace. 

"Where there is vegetable, there is wild boar" goes a saying in the villages. 

Jena said "Very recently we held interactive sessions of the villagers with a renowned wild life human conflict expert Dr Rudraditya."

The wild life human conflict expert gave homely tips for saving crops and houses under the raid line of the elephants. 

Common sense is to be used and never feel to outdo the wild life as after all it's in their home land humans are trespassing. 

"Villagers were asked to ready old jute bags soaked with red chili and mobil as when it is lit, its smoke drives away the elephants"Jena repeated quoting Dr Rudraditya. 

Again asked if the wild life human conflict expert briefed villagers about behaviour of wild life prior to its attacking humans Jena said "It was said and explained at length."

A lone elephant behaves differently from an elephant in the herd or any elephant which is in a state of sexual ecstasy or elephant with its calf. 

Lives can be saved if humans do not want to abandon their lives themselves quipped Jena. 

"What is the need of going to the jungles at night or even before the day breaks. When humans err, the wild life does no mistake. They attack humans for their own safety." added Jena. 

Sources said villagers who are tipsy negotiate wild life path only to encounter wild life which very often harms them badly.