New Initiatives to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflicts in Tamulpur

In Tamulpur, the Forest Minister has announced the deployment of 140 'Gaj Mitras' to tackle the increasing human-elephant conflicts along the India-Bhutan border. This initiative includes local youths and Forest Department officials working together to prevent elephant incursions into human settlements. With rising incidents raising safety concerns, the government is also considering increasing compensation for victims' families. The measures aim to restore elephant corridors and promote ecological balance in the region. Discover the full details of these initiatives and their potential impact on the community.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 8, 2026, 14:41 IST

Efforts to Address Human-Elephant Conflicts

File image of elephants in Tamulpur

Tamulpur, Nov 8: In response to the escalating human-elephant conflicts near the India-Bhutan border in Tamulpur district, Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced on Saturday the formation of 14 teams of 'Gaj Mitras', totaling 140 individuals, to help mitigate these issues.

Baruah stated, "We have observed human-elephant conflicts in both Tamulpur and Nalbari districts. Following a meeting today, we have decided to deploy 14 Gaj Mitra teams, each consisting of 10 local youths, along with three officials from the Forest Department. Their mission will be to collaborate with the community to address these conflicts effectively."

This announcement came after a high-level meeting at the Tamulpur District Commissioner's office, which was led by Baruah alongside local MLA and Cabinet Minister Biswajit Daimary.

The increasing frequency of these incidents has raised alarms regarding human safety, as large herds of elephants are moving down from the hills in search of food, encroaching on human habitats in Baksa, Tamulpur, and Nalbari districts.

During the discussions, experts highlighted that encroachments have obstructed traditional elephant corridors near the Bhutan border. Starting November 9, a collaborative team from the Forest Department and police will assess these corridors to identify blockages that are compelling elephants to invade human areas, Baruah noted.

Additionally, the minister revealed that an Ecological Task Force, made up of former military personnel, will initiate the planting of elephant-friendly trees across 50 hectares.

"We plan to bring the Kokrajhar Ecological Task Force to this area. Our initial goal is to transform 50 hectares into forested land with vegetation that elephants can feed on. This initiative aims to lessen human-elephant conflicts in the region. We will reconvene in December to evaluate the progress of this month's efforts and discuss further actions," he added.

Regarding compensation for fatalities resulting from elephant encounters, Baruah mentioned that the state government is contemplating an increase from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.

"Previously, the families of individuals who lost their lives in human-elephant conflicts received Rs 6 lakh. We are now considering raising this amount to Rs 8 lakh and are working to expedite the compensation process," he stated.

On November 4, the Assam government shortened the compensation disbursement timeline for the families of victims from 72 hours to 48 hours, a decision announced by Baruah during a meeting at Aranya Bhawan in Guwahati.

These initiatives come as Assam grapples with a rising number of human-elephant conflict incidents, with reports indicating that 53 individuals have lost their lives this year alone. Tamulpur, Goalpara, and Kamrup (Rural) are among the districts most severely impacted.