Tangedco begins installation of aerial bunched cables along a 12-km stretch within Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to prevent elephant deaths due to electrocution. The ₹5 crore project aims to enhance wildlife safety.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has initiated the installation of aerial bunched cables along a 12-kilometer stretch within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). This move comes in response to a series of elephant deaths in the Nilgiris region, caused by accidental electrocution from power lines traversing reserve forests and the MTR.
Tangedco officials explained that the aerial bunched cables, also known as aerial bundled cables, are overhead power lines used for power transmission. These cables are tightly bound together with insulating materials, making them significantly safer for wildlife, particularly elephants.
The project, estimated at ₹5 crore, is currently being implemented between Thorapalli and Theppakadu within the MTR. This marks the first phase of the initiative, with plans to extend the project to power lines across the entire tiger reserve and reserve forests in the Nilgiris.
A senior Tangedco official stated, "Over the years, numerous elephants have died after accidentally pulling down or coming into contact with power infrastructure in MTR and surrounding areas. The aerial bunched cables will prevent such incidents from occurring in the future."
The installation work is already underway, with 324 out of the planned 653 poles already in place within the tiger reserve. Forest Department officials are collaborating with Tangedco to identify sagging power lines, especially in the wake of recent heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris.
A Forest Department official from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve added, "Our forest staff have been instructed to promptly communicate to Tangedco about any power lines at risk of snapping or those too low to the ground, posing a threat to wildlife. We are actively working to reduce the number of elephants killed due to accidental electrocutions."
This initiative represents a significant step towards wildlife conservation in the Nilgiris, particularly in safeguarding the elephant population from the dangers posed by conventional power lines. As the project progresses, it is expected to greatly reduce wildlife casualties and contribute to the overall ecological balance of the region.
Tangedco officials explained that the aerial bunched cables, also known as aerial bundled cables, are overhead power lines used for power transmission. These cables are tightly bound together with insulating materials, making them significantly safer for wildlife, particularly elephants.
The project, estimated at ₹5 crore, is currently being implemented between Thorapalli and Theppakadu within the MTR. This marks the first phase of the initiative, with plans to extend the project to power lines across the entire tiger reserve and reserve forests in the Nilgiris.
A senior Tangedco official stated, "Over the years, numerous elephants have died after accidentally pulling down or coming into contact with power infrastructure in MTR and surrounding areas. The aerial bunched cables will prevent such incidents from occurring in the future."
The installation work is already underway, with 324 out of the planned 653 poles already in place within the tiger reserve. Forest Department officials are collaborating with Tangedco to identify sagging power lines, especially in the wake of recent heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris.
A Forest Department official from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve added, "Our forest staff have been instructed to promptly communicate to Tangedco about any power lines at risk of snapping or those too low to the ground, posing a threat to wildlife. We are actively working to reduce the number of elephants killed due to accidental electrocutions."
This initiative represents a significant step towards wildlife conservation in the Nilgiris, particularly in safeguarding the elephant population from the dangers posed by conventional power lines. As the project progresses, it is expected to greatly reduce wildlife casualties and contribute to the overall ecological balance of the region.