Coimbatore: A team of experts from Project Elephant Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change comprising of Hari Kumar from IFS, retired, Former Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, Dr. K. M. Selvan, Scientist D, Dr. Prajna Panda, Project Elephant Division, MoEF&CC and Dr. Bilal Habib, Wildlife Institute of India have examined the locations vulnerable for Elephant death by train hit from Palakad to Madukarai.
Coimbatore: A team of experts from Project Elephant Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change comprising of Hari Kumar from IFS, retired, Former Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, Dr. K. M. Selvan, Scientist D, Dr. Prajna Panda, Project Elephant Division, MoEF&CC and Dr. Bilal Habib, Wildlife Institute of India have examined the locations vulnerable for Elephant death by train hit from Palakad to Madukarai.
As part of the exercise, the team of experts visited vulnerable railway lines which link Tamil Nadu and Kerala which are reportedly responsible for deaths of elephants that are caused on railway lines which connect the two states.
Following the increase in the number of elephant deaths that are caused on the railway lines and taking note of stories in the media about the deaths, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), formulated the Central Monitoring Committee which comprises the MoEFCC, coping with the Project Elephant to study the cause of death of the elephants on the railway lines which connect the two states. According to media reports, it was learned that late night and early morning trains were responsible for a majority of elephant deaths. It had come to light that trains running on the railway lines connecting the two states between 10 pm and 6 am had caused seven of the eight elephant deaths.
Two railway lines namely A and B were studied. While the former which covers a distance of 17-kilometers, runs through reserve forest Chullimada-Madukkarai stations, the latter is a 23-kilometer stretch that passes through Madukkarai- Kanjikode stations.
As part of the exercise, the team analysed the reasons for the train hit cases that caused elephant deaths. The team also took a closer look at the steps implemented by the Forest departments of the two states and the Railways to prevent such accidents in the future. The team discussed the plan of action that could be implemented to prevent incidents of trains hitting the elephants which results in their death. “The team will submit its report in this regard to the MoEFCC, who will in-turn forward the report to NGT.” Adding that the inspection could have been conducted in the night instead of having it during the day, the source added the members of the inspection team could have also interacted with the loco pilots to ascertain the problems that they face on ground zero.
It may be recalled that both the Tamil Nadu and its Kerala counterpart had submitted a report. In the report filed by Tamil Nadu stated that poor visibility on the tracks and an uneven topography is the cause of death of elephants hit by trains. The Palakkad Railway Division, on the other hand submitted the various measure that it has implemented in order to prevent elephant deaths caused by running trains. It is learned that a meeting was held between MoEF&CC and the Railways. It was discussed to construct bridges, put up fences and construct side drains. However, due to the non-sanction of funds on behalf of the MoEF&CC, the projects continue to remain on paper.
As part of the exercise, the team of experts visited vulnerable railway lines which link Tamil Nadu and Kerala which are reportedly responsible for deaths of elephants that are caused on railway lines which connect the two states.
Following the increase in the number of elephant deaths that are caused on the railway lines and taking note of stories in the media about the deaths, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), formulated the Central Monitoring Committee which comprises the MoEFCC, coping with the Project Elephant to study the cause of death of the elephants on the railway lines which connect the two states. According to media reports, it was learned that late night and early morning trains were responsible for a majority of elephant deaths. It had come to light that trains running on the railway lines connecting the two states between 10 pm and 6 am had caused seven of the eight elephant deaths.
Two railway lines namely A and B were studied. While the former which covers a distance of 17-kilometers, runs through reserve forest Chullimada-Madukkarai stations, the latter is a 23-kilometer stretch that passes through Madukkarai- Kanjikode stations.
As part of the exercise, the team analysed the reasons for the train hit cases that caused elephant deaths. The team also took a closer look at the steps implemented by the Forest departments of the two states and the Railways to prevent such accidents in the future. The team discussed the plan of action that could be implemented to prevent incidents of trains hitting the elephants which results in their death. “The team will submit its report in this regard to the MoEFCC, who will in-turn forward the report to NGT.” Adding that the inspection could have been conducted in the night instead of having it during the day, the source added the members of the inspection team could have also interacted with the loco pilots to ascertain the problems that they face on ground zero.
It may be recalled that both the Tamil Nadu and its Kerala counterpart had submitted a report. In the report filed by Tamil Nadu stated that poor visibility on the tracks and an uneven topography is the cause of death of elephants hit by trains. The Palakkad Railway Division, on the other hand submitted the various measure that it has implemented in order to prevent elephant deaths caused by running trains. It is learned that a meeting was held between MoEF&CC and the Railways. It was discussed to construct bridges, put up fences and construct side drains. However, due to the non-sanction of funds on behalf of the MoEF&CC, the projects continue to remain on paper.