Damak, Jan. 9: Locals of the Bahundangi area in Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa, are fed up with Indian wild elephants and stray cattle that enter their settlement crossing the border. 

Arjun Karki, the Ward Chairman of Mechinagar-4, reported that wild elephants and cattle from India have caused significant damage to crops. In the border area towards India side, there is a dense forest where Indian residents release their cattle to graze but these cattle venture directly onto the farms of Nepali farmers, and cause harm to the crops. The farmers have asked the local authorities numerous times to take measures to check the entry of Indian cattle. According to Karki, they have imposed a fine of up to Rs. 5000 against those who abandon their cattle in the Nepali land.

Karki also said that, “The distressed farmers from Nepali side brought more than 20 stray cattle coming from India and staged a sit-in at the ward office, and in response a decision was made to impose fines to control the situation.”

“The ward office has also informed the farmers of the border area about the fine that can be imposed on the stray cattle that ravages the farms of Nepali residents. Karki informed them that such quadrupeds would be kept under control and would be released only after the owner pays the fine” said karki.

“It is difficult to control wild elephants entering Nepal but stray quadrupeds can be controlled if the authority show willpower,” said Karki.

Arjun Rana, a local said, “Some farmers prefer keeping their fields barren owing to the fear of such cattle. Farmers often complain that they have to guard their fields from elephants and animals to protect their harvest.”