Valparai turns to migrant labour as residents flee to plains

Although Valparai continues to be a preferred tourist destination, estate workers are moving in troves to plains for fear of elephant attacks. AITUC state secretary and former Valparai MLA M Arumugam from Communist Party of India said that the population of Valparai has dipped sharply over the years due to large-scale migration of people. “Valparai may be the only constituency where the population is going down drastically, year on year. From over three lakh voters a few decades ago, the electorate had come down to just about 1,95,426 persons. It may go down further in the coming years, if steps are not taken to prevent the spate of man animal conflicts,” said Arumugam. 

He further expressed apprehension that labourers fear for their lives, as more than 50 people have died in elephant attacks in the last 10 years. “Apart from elephants, conflicts due to intrusion of wild boars, leopards and tigers have also escalated in the hills. The labour workforce now constitutes primarily of migrant workers from Assam, West Bengal and Bihar,” he said. 

Incidentally, 15 of the 28 panchayats in Valparai fall in the area earmarked for Anamalai Tiger Reserve, which is prone to frequent incidents of humananimal conflicts. “Wild animals like leopards, wild boar and tigers, which have increased exponentially, tend to stray frequently into human habitations. However, there is a shortage of fodder and prey base in the woods, forcing wild animals to venture further out in search of their basic needs. Hence, elephants frequently visit the ration shops to feed on rice, pulses and jaggery. Such forays result in residents living under constant fear of animal attacks,” said Arumugam. 

Meanwhile, the Forest department claimed that they were constantly involved in creating awareness among the public against teasing wild elephants, by throwing stones or crackers, to prevent conflicts. “Elephants continue to make frequent visits to residential settlements and tea estates at Tantea estate, Sincona estate area and Gajamudi in the hills. Also, public are warned against venturing out alone at night in areas where elephants are known to visit. Two persons were killed in elephant encounters in Valparai last year,” pointed out an official. 

Valparai Forest Ranger T Sakthivel said that as a preventive measure, the Forest department has written to officials in the Valparai Municipality, to remove meat shops located in tea estates along forest boundaries, as they tend to attract wild animals. “We have also recommended action against dumping of poultry wastes into forest boundaries,” he added.