Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Bhubaneswar: The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a high level meeting on Thursday in the Odisha  secretariat has reviewed on the security of elephants.  In the meeting it was decided to form a coordination committee to protect the elephants. It was directed to the state environment and forests department and the energy department to form a committee to ensure decrease in the casualties.

As per the meeting now the number of elephant is 1886 as per the census of 2010. The number of elephant is 1827  in the year 2009. Out of which 81 % 1528 elephants are living in the reserve forest. The elephants are destroying life and wealth frequently. During last two years average in a year 55 elephants have  died for many reasons and 16 elephants has faced accidents.

Similarly during last six years average per year 58 persons had died due to attack of elephants and about 6thousand Acres of agriculture products have damaged. The government has incurred an expenses of Rs 127.40 lakhs for compensation. Highest 46 persons have died in Keonjhar district in elephant attack, following 41 in Sundergarh and 28 in Dhenkanal.