Death of jumbos forces forest department to think of underground cabling now!
- Six elephants were died due to electrocution in Madikeri district alone in the last two weeks
- The forest department now wants to lay underground power cable to mitigate the casualties
- Besides, the government is also planning to have solar fencing as an alternative option
FollowIn the wake of death of six elephants due to electrocution in Kodagu district this month alone, the forest department has now come up with a proposal to lay underground power cable to prevent the death of elephants due to electrocution. The proposal suggests that electric wires should not be at the ground level especially in the areas identified as elephant's migratory path, in tiger reserve forests and also the areas that fall in the bracket of project tiger, reports Prajavani quoting Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife division) P Anur Reddy.
As laying underground cables is quite expensive, the forest department and the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) are expected to bear the expenses, together as the distribution of elephants is more in Mysuru-Kodagu region.
It may be recalled here that early this week, four elephants including two calves had stepped on power cable resulting in their death. It was said that the power lines had snapped after a tree fell on it due to heavy rain. But it is alleged that the forest officials who had rushed to the spot could not find any tree that had fallen. It is alleged that the power cables were drawn lower to the ground, against the High Court direction.
Both the forest department and CESC will carry out a joint probe into the death of six elephants in Kodagu district, reports The New Indian Express.
It is reported that laying underground electricity cable had already been discussed with the Escoms but none of them took initiative to work on the proposal, reports Prajavani quoting an official from the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). Meanwhile, Kodagu district in-charge minister MR Seetharam told mediapersons on Thursday that the government is planning to have a solar fencing in elephant corridors. "We had opted for electric fencing to check the rising incidents of man-animal conflict. But this has had an adverse impact on wildlife, especially on elephants. Following the death of six elephants, the government is now contemplating on solar fencing instead of power cables," Seetharam said, reports Kannada Prabha.
