Forest dept to set up solar fencing around ration shop (Idukki) Times of India January 29, 2023 The forest department will be setting up solar fencing around the ration shop at Panniar tea estate, which often comes under attack by wild elephants. Nearly 400 plantation workers are residing in the area and due to frequent elephant attacks, ration distribution to these workers has been disrupted. The elephant called ‘Arikomban’ often breaks the door and pulls down the walls of the shop before eating rice stored in the shop. Due to the jumbo menace, the shop has now been temporarily shifted to a nearby place. “The department has also approved solar fencing of the ration shop at Anayirangal, another affected area, and for the line houses of plantation workers in Shankara Pandian Mettu in Santhanpara panchayat. The fencing for the line house will cover half a kilometre. The fencing work for the shop at Panniar will start in a week,” Devikulam forest range officer Veji P V said. Meanwhile, ‘Arikomban’ attacked another house at BL Rav in Chinnakanal during the wee hours of Saturday. The house of one Rajeswari came under attack. She suffered minor injuries in the incident. Meanwhile, forest officials, watchers, and residents managed to drive a herd of seven elephants from a cardamom estate at Suryanelli to Anayirangal area,. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/forest-dept-to-set-up-solar-fencing-around-ration-shop/articleshow/97410757.cms