Shillong, May 12: The Hill Farmers’ Union has asked the Meghalaya government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the bee keepers of Mawpyrthuh village in East Khasi Hills district whose beehive boxes have been destroyed by wild animals including bear.

In a letter to the Principal Chief Conservation of Forest (PCCF) of the state government on Tuesday, HFU president Commander Shangpliang and HFU general secretary, Allfondbirth Kharsyntiew said that in the last one year, more than 500 beehive boxes and honey were destroyed by wildlife in Mawpyrthuh area, under Pynursla Sub Division, East Khasi Hill District which led to the loss of livelihood amounting to Rs 10 lakh to the local agrarian communities.

“We therefore take the opportunity to request the State government to pay the compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the farmers,” the letter said.

Recently, 10 people of Mawpyrthuh village were arrested after a picture of the Himalayan bear went viral on social media accusing the villagers of killing the bear.

According to the farmers, the bear fell into a trap of bee farmers of Mawpyrthuh village and died there.

On this, the HFU requested the state government to release the arrested farmers due to the death of the bear.

The HFU also urged the State Forest department to conduct awareness programmes on the existing wildlife animal protection act at Mawpyrthuh village and other places across the state.

The Union also offered to collaborate and partner with the forest department to conduct awareness / training programmes across the state on the wildlife conservation on a regular basis to avoid animal-human conflicts.