Alarmed at the death of 461 elephants due to electrocution between 2009 and 2017, or over 50 a year, a task force set up by Union Environment Ministry has suggested installing reinforced electric poles fitted with spikes in forest areas and sanctuaries to prevent the jumbos from rubbing against them or uprooting them in a fit of rage.
The panel has also suggested measures, including lifting of sagging overhead powerlines, laying of underground cable or aerial bunched cables or covered conductors to save the wildlife animals in the protected areas.
Calling for a national policy and lifting of sagging overhead power lines, the committee submitted its report before the National Board of Wildlife in a recent meeting also recommended insulation of overhead wires across all elephant habitat and elephant movement zones and remove / dismantle all defunct solar powered fences. In fact, the power lines and electric poles are not only taking toll on jumbos but also on a large number of several other animals and birds in the protected areas and sanctuaries.
Data from Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) show 355 elephants across the country died from deliberate and accidental electrocution between 2010 and 2016 - 62 of these deaths took place in 2016 alone. The list identifies flamingos as the second largest casualty of animal electrocution, at 181, followed by leopards and peacocks at 64 deaths each over six years.
The Committee said that the guidelines aiming to save the animals from electrocution will have to be implemented by the Electricity Supply Units, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., (PGCIL), Central Electrical Authority (CEA), and State Electricity Boards (SEBs). They have been directed to jointly inspect every transmission/distribution line passing through the protected areas or the vicinity of protected Areas (which are frequented by wild animals), at least thrice a year once before onset of monsoon and once after monsoon so as to identify potential problem stretches.
The distribution companies shall preferably use ABC (aerial bunched cables) or underground cable. In case of the overhead lines, the clearance above ground of the lower conductor of 11 KV / 33 KV overhead lines should be as per the CEA Regulations, said the task force.
To prevent birds collision with the earth wires (less visible wire) installed at the top of transmission lines, line marker devices/bird reflectors should be used in sufficient numbers to deflect the winged beauties to take alternate path.
As per the WPSI, the maximum electrocution cases in India of animals such as elephants, tigers, lions, sloth bear, deer and bird species, were seen in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Flamingo and leopard deaths were most in Gujarat and Maharashtra, said the WPSI report.
