The Forest Department has planned to present a proposal to the district administration urging it to ban the use of palm wood in brick kiln chambers to prevent the elephants into entering the chambers.

According to N. Satheesh, District Forest Officer, palm tree woods and leaves were being used as firewood in the brick kiln chambers. “They are being stored in large quantity. After a particular time, the wood and leaves get fermented. The smell emanating from the fermented stuff attracts the elephants,” he said.

“The number of man-animal conflicts near the brick kilns in Thondamuthur, Thadagam and other areas have increased. The department even conducted awareness program for the kiln owners and workers, during which time we asked them to inform us immediately if they found anybody troubling the animals or other wildlife.”

(Two days ago, a video showing three youths taunting a pachyderm caught in a brick kiln, went viral. A brick kiln owner said the three were outsiders.)

Satheesh urged the workers and other residents not to venture out of their houses during night times and in the early mornings as most of the tragedies happen that time. He also advised them to sleep inside their houses as their houses were close to the reserves of Western Ghats.

Brick kiln owners appealed to the administration to install street lights in the residential areas.

Later an awareness programme was conducted as part of project ‘Kaliru’, in which forest personnel, district officials, members of Osai and Thadagam Bricks Manufacturer’s Association participated.