Solar fences to be erected in foothills

TIRUVANNAMALAI: Solar fences to prevent elephants from entering villages will be installed at vital points in the foothills of Periamalai in Polur taluk. According to Tiruvannmalai Collector Anshul Misra, the fence will be erected at a cost of Rs 25.68 lakh.At a press meet convened at the District Collectorate on Monday, Mishra said that the problem of a herd of seven elephants entering border villages of Melsozhangkuppam, Edapirai and Athimur had increased in the last 15 days. Until now, elephants came into the villages once in a while, but now the jumbos have begun to enter villages once in two days, causing extensive damage to crops. The Collector also warned that the public should never try to chase away the animals themselves but should instead alert the police and forest or revenue officials, who, in turn, would engage trained persons to chase them out.