Shillong, Feb 23: The state government has proposed three elephant corridors in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed the House on Day 6 of the ongoing Budget Session 2026-27.
Replying to a question by NPP MLA Rupert Momin, Sangma said the state already has six notified elephant corridors, but asserted that there was “no 100% measure” to stop herds that have used the tracks “for years and centuries.”
Momin raised the issue of crop damage by elephants migrating from Assam.
“(A) balance needs to be struck… awareness is conducted on regular basis, voluntary protection squads are supported,” he said, adding that food plantations along corridors are being used to create a “sausage barrier” to reduce encounters.
On Momin’s request for a wildlife office at Wageasi-Dainadubi, the CM said beat and range offices are under examination with the Planning and the Finance departments. Man-elephant conflict is a regular phenomenon along these corridors.
Five of the six elephant corridors in the state are in Garo Hills, and those are Ranggira-Nokrek, Imangiri-Nokrek, Rewak-Imangiri, Siju-Rewak and Baghmara-Balpakram.
Sangma also listed the four wildlife sanctuaries — Nongkhyllem, Siju, Baghmara and Narpuh — and two national parks — Balpakram and Nokrek, adding that two more sanctuaries at Baghmara and Riatkhwan are being considered.
Sangma highlighted anti-poaching patrols, inter-agency intelligence, seizures, prosecutions, community reserves and volunteer squads as part of broader preventive measures to the available species in the state.
On catchment protection raised by UDP’s Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, he said Mawkyrwat and other district sites are under review, with Shillong and Tura catchments already protected.
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