Electrocution of elephants: Karnataka High Court notice to KPTCL and Escoms
The Hindu
July 19, 2024
The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered the issue of notice to
Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTLC) and various
electricity supply companies (Escoms) after it was pointed out that sagging
electrical wires passing through forests and illegal electrical fencing put
up by private landowners were among the causes for electrocution of
elephants and other wild animals.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V.
Aravind passed the order while hearing a PIL petition, which the court suo
motu initiated on June 14 based on newspaper reports on the unnatural death
of 38-year-old Dasara elephant Ashwathama, which died at its camp in
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve on June 11.
Sagging Lines
During the hearing, the State Forest Department, while elaborating on the
measures in place to protect the elephants, pointed out that it has on many
occasions communicated to the KPTCL and Escoms about the issues of sagging
high-tension electric lines passing through forest areas due to
non-maintenance, and illegal electrical fencing by landowners in the
elephant corridors.
The department has pointed out that the KPTCL and Escoms have not responded
to its concern despite several communications for taking necessary safety
measures.
Also, the department, in its statement, has pointed out that elephant
Ashwathama died to liver and pancreas-related ailments as per the
post-mortem report submitted by a team of veterinarians, and not due to
electrocution as was suspected initially.
Post-Mortem Report
However, Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Puthige R. Ramesh pointed out
from the post-mortem report the reference about marking of solar tentacles
on the body of the elephant, among other observations.
Earlier, government counsel pointed out that the department had erected
barricades using old railway tracks, installed tentacle fencing, and dug up
elephant-proof trenches ranging several kilometres to prevent jumbos from
straying out of forests or out of elephant corridors. It was also pointed
out to the court that the radio collars were also being used to track the
movement of elephants and there is a central control room to track the
movement of elephants.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/electrocution-of-elephants-karnataka-high-court-notice-to-kptcl-and-escoms/article68422845.ece
Electrocution of elephants: Karnataka High Court notice to KPTCL and Escoms
The Hindu
July 19, 2024
The High Court of Karnataka on Friday ordered the issue of notice to
Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTLC) and various
electricity supply companies (Escoms) after it was pointed out that sagging
electrical wires passing through forests and illegal electrical fencing put
up by private landowners were among the causes for electrocution of
elephants and other wild animals.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V.
Aravind passed the order while hearing a PIL petition, which the court suo
motu initiated on June 14 based on newspaper reports on the unnatural death
of 38-year-old Dasara elephant Ashwathama, which died at its camp in
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve on June 11.
Sagging Lines
During the hearing, the State Forest Department, while elaborating on the
measures in place to protect the elephants, pointed out that it has on many
occasions communicated to the KPTCL and Escoms about the issues of sagging
high-tension electric lines passing through forest areas due to
non-maintenance, and illegal electrical fencing by landowners in the
elephant corridors.
The department has pointed out that the KPTCL and Escoms have not responded
to its concern despite several communications for taking necessary safety
measures.
Also, the department, in its statement, has pointed out that elephant
Ashwathama died to liver and pancreas-related ailments as per the
post-mortem report submitted by a team of veterinarians, and not due to
electrocution as was suspected initially.
Post-Mortem Report
However, Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Puthige R. Ramesh pointed out
from the post-mortem report the reference about marking of solar tentacles
on the body of the elephant, among other observations.
Earlier, government counsel pointed out that the department had erected
barricades using old railway tracks, installed tentacle fencing, and dug up
elephant-proof trenches ranging several kilometres to prevent jumbos from
straying out of forests or out of elephant corridors. It was also pointed
out to the court that the radio collars were also being used to track the
movement of elephants and there is a central control room to track the
movement of elephants.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/electrocution-of-elephants-karnataka-high-court-notice-to-kptcl-and-escoms/article68422845.ece