While 10 were killed in elephant attack in last three years, about 800 acres of crops were damaged every year and the Forest Department paid Rs 2 crore compensation per year under Kuarmunda forest range.
Sources said during 2010-11 an elephant herd of about 11 members had entered into Odisha border from Jharkhand through Saranda jungle. Due to rampant Maoist activities, exchange of fire and damage of the jungle, the herd strayed into Kuarmunda region for fodder. Despite all out effort, the elephants could not be driven away till date. While in day time they are moving in Kumar hill as it is a dense forest, at night they enter into the village area to eat crops.
In the last three year three persons of Kuarmunda area and seven people from Biramitrapur area died in elephant attack and many houses and crops were damaged every year, said a forest staff. Besides Kumar Pahad, they are roaming in Puturikhaman, Dumanggiri, Tangarani, Sandalki, Pasara, Riun, Bijubandh, Kacharu, Teliposh, Bhaludumer, Dairy farm and Brahmani Pahad area. Basically they are damaging the houses of villagers to eat the crops they are keeping in houses.
According to Kuarmunda forest ranger Bharat Ghadei to keep away the elephants 20 guards are engaged and a special vehicle is arranged.
Besides crackers, dry chilly and chilly powders are used to remove the elephants from the area. But this is not sufficient to remove them orprotect the crops field permanently. That is why a proposal to dig a trench around the Kamar pahad was given to the Government three months back. But its cost will be around `4 lakh per km, he informed.