Hundreds of villagers of lanjuda gram panchayat, who are victims of wild boar menace, on Wednesday staged a dharana in front of the Gahirmatha Wildlife and Forest Range office, demanding immediate relief.
The villagers of lanjuda, Gugua, Suniti and Jamboo panchayats inhabiting in the fringes of the Bhitarkanika National Park said that they have been spending sleepless nights as wild boars were damaging their standing paddy crops almost every night. These animals are straying from the Bhitarkanika National Park and after destroying their crops returning back to the forests.
The agitating locals alleged that the Forest department was callous in taking remedial measures despite repeated complaints. The agitators demanded suitable compensation for crop damage, free treatment and livelihood security to those who were injured. Meanwhile, sources said in order to curb down straying of wild boars to the human habitation from the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Forest department has installed fencing at the boundary of Gahirmatha. But there are several kms of area where fencing is yet to be made for which the wild boar manage to sneak and create havoc in the crop fields and also attack locals.
When contacted, Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra admitted that about a dozen of farmers have filed applications seeking compensation for crop damage. He stated that the Forest department is providing Rs 10,000 per acre of damaged paddy crop due to wild boar menace. To drive out the wild boars, the Forest department has engaged five local youths. They have been provided cycle tyres, search lights and fire crackers, said Patra.