As a precautionary measure to avoid electrocution of elephants on railway line, a joint coordination meeting of the Forest officials of Bolangir and Sonepur Divisions, Executive Engineer, Wesco, Balangir and railway officials was held on Tuesday here. The forest officials team comprising DFO Sameer Kumar Satpathy
,Honourary Wildlife Warden Sudhir Kumar Mishra, ACF NK Jaisingh, Range
Officer BC Roul, Naveen Das, Ajit Nath, RK Naik, Dinabandhu Meher attended. Similarly ACF from Sonepur Division Bimal Mishra, and Executive Engineer Wesco Ashutosh Ghosh participated in the discussion. They pointed out different areas of Bolangir, Deogaon, loisingha, Patnagarh and Harishankar where elephant movement was reported and steps to ward off the mishaps.
After deliberation, it was decided to take a survey of electricity line in those area areas where elephant movement is reported and to assess what preventive measures could be taken.
A joint survey by Forest and electricity officials would be completed
by October 30 and a report would be prepared by the first week of November.
The Forest officials held another round of discussion with Assistant Divisional Engineer, East Coast Railway, Bolangir Hiralal later on the day. The speed control issue figured for discussion. The railway officials urged the forest officials for regular inputs on elephant movements.
A joint forest and railway team would visit the Khaliapali-Negipali section line to assess visibility and other aspects there as elephants usually cross railway line. Moreover, it was also decided to generateawareness among local people.