Residents of Karuwalagaswewa complain that, despite the human-elephant struggle going on for a long time, nothing has been done by the relevant authorities to address the issue. Wild Elephants which were once confined to the jungles, today roam the villages, due to their habitat shrinking, consequent to human encroachment.
Many lives have been lost and much damage to house and property caused by wild jumbos, while officials tasked with tackling the issue, remain inactive.
The damage done to cultivation is immense, while villagers have to grin and bear, as no action has been taken by responsible State officials.
Though politicians promised action would be taken to settle the problem during the time of the hustings, nothing has been done to rectify the situation.
L.A. Gunasena (60) of Moriya Kadawala in Egodapitiya said illicit timber fellers went into the jungles, felled timber and occupied forest land. On occasions, they received State patronage. Gunasena said he was a victim who purchased land from one of these people. He said he had to abandon this land as elephants constantly entered the land. The pachyderms were now roaming the entire village he said.
He said that the past three months had been traumatic, as animals now roam the villages of Ethungoda, Radavigama and Nelumgama.
He added that Milroy Fernando MP, gave them money to put up an electric fence, but as some objected to it, the fence never came up. Later, officials of the Wildlife Department erected another fence which was not effective.
If another fence is constructed, we will protect it, he said.
Forty-six year-old Iranganie said she bought her piece of land to grow mangoes, but the denizens of the wild destroyed the plantation. Other villagers expressed similar views.
Pradeshiya secretary M Premasuriya said, after much discussion, an operation commenced to drive the elephants back into the forests. Unfortunately, lack of funds brought the effort to a complete halt. “We will have to wait for the next allocation to recommence the operation” he said. |
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