Elephant death in Virajpet: Who will take the responsibility?

Two calves among four elephants were electrocuted in a coffee plantation near Virajpet in Madikeri district on Tuesday. So far, six elephants have been electrocuted in the last 15 days in Madikeri district alone. While this could be passed off as yet another death, what one fails to notice the fact is that the gross negligence on the part of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (Cesc) officials in drawing power lines close to the ground, completely in violation of the high court order. This clearly amounts to contempt of court.

It may be recalled here that in 2012, the High Court of Karnataka taking serious note of death of elephants primarily due to electrocution had filed a suo motu. The court had also formed the elephant task force to find out the reason for deaths of jumbos and suggest measures to mitigate the casualty. The committee had pointed out about the sagging electric power lines that posed serious danger to the elephants in hilly regions like Kodagu. Kodagu like Mysuru and Hassan forms the migratory path of elephants. Following this, the court had directed the Cesc to evolve power-proof lines to save the gentle giants. But in vain. The electricity supply companies have been accused of repeatedly ignoring the request to raise the minimum height of power transmission pylons by 20 feet in elephant habitats to prevent even the elephant trunk to reach it, as suggested by the committee. 

In fact, the forest department is equally responsible to identify the migratory routes before the power lines are drawn up to prevent wildlife mortalities. But in the absence of migratory path, the plantations in Virajpet and other parts of Madikeri have encroached upon the forest land and elephants are becoming victims of this negligence, like anywhere else. But will the officials do anything about it?

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• jumbos electrocuted