The Hill Farmers’ Union (HFU) on Tuesday urged the Meghalaya government to release the arrested farmers from Mawpyrthuh village and compensate Rs 10 lakh to the farmers who lost their beehive boxes and livelihood due to attacks from wild animals.
In a letter to the principal chief conservation of forest (PCCF), Meghalaya, HFU president Commander Shangpliang and HFU general secretary Allfondbirth Kharsyntiew sought compensation for the damages of beehive boxes and disruption of livelihood of farmers of Mawpyrthuh village due to attack from wild animals.
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At least 10 villagers from Mawpyrthuh village were arrested recently after a picture of the Himalayan bear went viral on social media accusing the villagers of killing the bear.
“We would like to inform the department that in the last one year, more than 500 beehive boxes and its produces were destroyed by wildlife in Mawpyrthuh area, under Pynursla Sub-Division, East Khasi Hills district leading to the loss of livelihood amounting to Rs 10 lakh to the local agrarian communities,” said the letter.
“We therefore take the opportunity to request the state government to pay the compensation to the farmers,” the union said in the letter.
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The HFU also requested the state forest department to conduct awareness programmes on the existing wildlife protection Act in Mawpyrthuh village and other places across the state.
The union also offered to collaborate and partner with the department to initiate and conduct awareness / training programmes across the state on wildlife conservation on a regular basis so as to avoid any animal-human conflict.
The HFU requested the Meghalaya government to release the farmers who were arrested recently due to the death of the bear.
The bear fell into a trap of bee farmers of Mawpyrthuh village and died.