Odisha allows villages to demand and pay for solar-fencing to prevent elephant entry

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government on Friday approved a proposal which will allow communities to pay and demand solar fencing in elephant-impacted villages.

Solar-fencing as a measure to prevent depredation leading to conflict was marginally effective because of lack of maintenance as well as theft. To bring in community ownership, Wildlife Wing had submitted a proposal where solar-fencing of villages could be taken up in PPP model under which agencies would be
empanelled for maintenance work for a period of five years.