Assam Launches HaatiApp, Solar Manual to Tackle Elephant Conflicts

12 Aug 2024 CW Team

In a notable effort to address the escalating Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Assam and the broader Northeast region, Aaranyak, a prominent biodiversity conservation organization, introduced the 'HaatiApp' mobile application and a detailed Solar Fence Manual in Assamese.

The purpose of both the App and the manual is to help mitigate the ongoing HEC in Assam and other regional areas, fostering coexistence between humans and elephants.

During the inauguration of the HaatiApp and the solar fence manual at a Guwahati event on Saturday night, Assam Minister for Power, Sports and Welfare, ITFC (Archaeology) and Co-operation, Nandita Garlosa, stated that these tools would be highly beneficial for various stakeholders involved in HEC mitigation.

Garlosa announced that the State Power Department would initiate an awareness campaign to prevent the electrocution of wild elephants caused by illegal power connections. She explained that in some HEC hotspots, individuals, driven by fear of elephant attacks, sometimes use illegal electric connections against the animals, leading to their electrocution. This practice is particularly troubling given the reverence with which elephants are held in the state.

She promised that the Power Department would take measures to educate the public in HEC-affected areas about the dangers of using illegal electric connections against wild elephants.

The ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Padma Dr Kushal Konwar Sharma, Padma Parbati Baruah, noted ecologist and retired Professor of Zoology at Gauhati University Dr Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee, Aaranyak's Secretary General and CEO Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, senior conservation scientist Dr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, and other prominent figures from various fields. Aaranyak official Anushka Saikia served as the event's anchor.

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