Human-elephant conflict highlighted at DPDB meeting

Dimapur, March 1 (EMN): The monthly District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting was held on Thursday, February 28 at Pangti Village Community Hall in Wokha. Vice chairman of the board and DC Wokha Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon presided over the meeting, said an update from DIPR. The board deliberated on approval of Aspiration Rural Development (RD) block under Wokha district during the meeting and recommended Champang RD Block as the aspirational block of the district. With regard to Yanmhon extra assistant commissioner post issue, it decided to send a reminder to the state government for consideration at the earliest. In regard to development of Sungro Public Healthcare Centre (PHC), chief medical officer Wokha, Dr. Robin Lotha said Sungro centre is one of the oldest health centres under Wokha district covering six villages. He added that due to lack of infrastructure and deplorable building condition of healthcare centre, basic required facilities cannot be provided, thus hampering the health care delivery to the people. The chairman requested to submit the detail report for improvement of the Sungro Public Healthcare Centre in the next meeting. Samoon appealed to all the DPDB members to extend support to the Lotha Students’ Union for the success of the 28th General Conference of the Naga Students’ Federation which will be held in Wokha. The department of Tourism and Forest presented a detailed report of their departmental activities. During the presentation, District Forest Officer Zuthunglo Patton apprised the members that Wokha district held more than 2/3rd of Nagaland’s elephant population as per the Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation India 2017. The number of elephants estimated for Nagaland is 446, which is 2nd highest density per sq km, only next to Karnataka. Patton highlighted the human-elephant conflict management, human injury/death and agricultural/property damage caused by wild elephants during the recent years. The district forest officer not only presented on the measures taken and conflict solutions but also mentioned the interventions and strategy to be taken up by central as well as state government at various levels.