Meghalaya: British Asian Trust official inaugurates solar fence in Garo Hills

Guwahati: A 1.2-kilometre-long and single-wire solar-powered fence to restrict movements of wild elephants was made operational in Borogopal Part 3 village in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya on Tuesday to facilitate the coexistence of villagers with wild elephants.

The fence was formally inaugurated by Belenda Stuwart Cox of British Asian Trust, UK, in the presence of representatives from the Forest Department of Meghalaya, Auro Saswat of British Asian Trust from Pondicherry, Aaranyak’s senior conservation scientist Dr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, wildlife biologist Alolika Sinha, and representatives from the Forest Department of Meghalaya.

The event was organised by biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, the local community of Borogobal, and the Borogobal Solar Fence Management Committee. Around 70 people, including the women of Borogobal village, attended the inauguration programme, reflecting the enthusiasm generated by the fence among the villagers who hope that lives and property would now be secured by the fence from herds of wild elephants roaming around in the area.