Sunsari, April 7, Technology equipped early warning tower is set to be constructed in Barahakshetra Municipality, Sunsari, with the aim of reducing conflict between wild elephants and local communities. The foundation stone for the tower was formally laid amid a special ceremony on Tuesday.
The initiative is part of the project “Climate-Resilient Ecosystem Restoration and Disaster Risk Reduction in Barahakshetra”, implemented through a partnership between the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Small Grants Programme, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project is jointly facilitated by the National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN) and the Mahila Sarokar Samaj, Sunsari, prioritizing the safety of residents in Wards 1 and 2 of Barahakshetra Municipality.

The foundation for the tower was laid by Mr. Ramesh Karki, Mayor of Barahakshetra Municipality with the presence of Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 2, Mr. Hom Prasad Gautam, among others. The tower will be constructed with active participation from the local community.
Equipped with advanced technology, the tower will monitor the movement of elephants entering settlement areas from nearby forests. Cameras installed on the tower will detect elephant movement from as far as two kilometers, and in case of potential risk, an alarm system will instantly alert local residents.

According to Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of DiMaNN, this innovative initiative is expected to strengthen local disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation capacity. He expressed confidence that timely information dissemination will help prevent possible human casualties and protect crops and property. Human–wildlife conflict has been increasing from the hills to the Chure and Terai regions in recent years due to factors such as migration and environmental changes. The project is expected to play a significant role in creating safer communities and ensuring long-term management of conflicts between humans and wildlife.