As part of the efforts against the growing threat of wild animals and the loss of crops, the forest department decided to install suspended fences of solar driven around some of the most vulnerable fields along the Sanctuary in Malabar in the Kozhikode district. In the first phase, a 4 km section in Vattakkayam in Chakkittappar Panchayat will be completed in response to farmers’ complaints.
On Tuesday (August 19, 2025) there was a meeting attended by a meeting of leading forest officials and head of the organization of farmers, which took place in the Office of the Forestry Office in Hodenamnamuzhi to explain the details of the project and its time -bound implementation. There were also concerns that some farmers have raised about possible accidents and future restrictions in protected areas.
“The project is carried out in cooperation with farmers who have long suffered from a wild animal threat. During the installation of a group of farmers, it will expand support at all possible fields of work,” said a member of the local authority who had previously proposed the project as a permanent solution. He added that after completion the project could serve as a model for neighboring Panchayats faced similar problems.
Forest department officers said they had completed field level surveys to start installing with the support of a competent agency. The detection of the survey and the related details of the project prepared in the Peruvannamuzhi Range office would be submitted to the Division Forest Officer for the final sanction.
When installing an energy fence, the demand of agricultural organizations for pruning overhanging branches along the forest borders will be considered, based on complaints of private land holders, that overgrowth affects cultivation in neighboring fields.
“We do not believe that the hanging fences themselves can end the threat of a wild animal, but the forest department should at least try to install using available financial resources,” said V. Mathew, farmer from Chakkittappar. He added that earlier proposals for stronger steel fences using dismantled railway lines proved to be pipe dreams, so farmers remained disappointed because of lack of monitoring.
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Published – August 20, 2025 20:50
