As many as 393 elephants have died during the last five years till September 20 at various jungles in Odisha, informed Forests and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh in the State Assembly on Tuesday.
In response to a question of BJD MlA Amar Prasad Satpathy, the Minister said the Government has taken many initiatives for safe living of elephants at various places. Plants, eatable for jumbos, are being planted and water bodies are being developed.
And for restricting their movements to human habitations, stone boundaries, deep drenches and solar power-run wire fencing are being done.
In a related question asked by Congress MlA Krushna Chandra Sagaria, Arukh said the Government has undertaken a five-year Elephant Corridor Plan from 2012-13 to 1016-17 for safe movement of pachyderms from one jungle to another.