Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 9
Four elephants have died of electrocution in a span six months in Wokha district. The Nagaland State Department of Forests, Ecology, Environment and Wildlife has waited this long to take legal action in the human-made problem that has led to the death of these elephants, with the possibility of more.
The deaths include that of a nursing mother and a calf who were electrocuted on April 8 by a sagging high tension electric cable (220/132 KV) in Sanis, a known elephant corridor; this was exactly where two other elephants were electrocuted on October 24, 2018.
“The height of the high tension electric cable/lines (220/132kv) is only 10-12 feet from the ground and had it been rectified, such an unfortunate recurrence of elephant death would not have taken place. This negligence amounts to violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for which legal action will be initiated as per the law,” stated H Tokaho Kinimi (IFS), Wildlife Warden (WW), Wildlife Division, Dimapur, in a press release today.
As per the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, high voltage lines above 11kv should have a minimum ground clearance of not less than 5.2m (17 feet). “For extra-high voltage lines the clearance above ground shall not be less than 5.2 metres plus 0.3 metre for every 33,000 volts (33kv) or part thereof by which the voltage of the line exceeds 33,000 volts,” the rules state.
It implies that the 132kv line in Sanis should have been at a height of 6.1m (20 feet). The line in question originates from Doyang Hydro Electric Project Dam enroute the North East Regional Load Despatch Centre in Shillong via Sanis, Aolijen in Mokokchung and Mariani in Jorhat Assam.
The Wokha Divisional Forest Officer has taken a veterinary doctor for an on-spot verification of the “cause of death” on April 8 (Monday) in order to take the legal proceedings forward.
Who is responsible?
This is not the first action taken by the wildlife officials of the State to safeguard the elephants.
“The Department had earlier written to the General Manager, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL – a Government of India enterprise), Dimapur, dated November 2, 2018, requesting to take necessary action for maintenance of electric cables/lines at optimum height as there may be such deaths from accidental electrocution in the future,” informed the WW's press release.
But neither did the Corporation act on the matter, nor did the Department follow up to make sure the issue was rectified, leading to the death of the two elephants on Monday.
When contacted by The Morung Express, an officer of the Wildlife Division, Dimapur– who declined to be named – said that “our only duty was to inform them (PGCIL) and we did that. They did not take the necessary action. We are serious about this case.”
SP Tripathi, Nagaland State Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, said that he has not just sent a letter to the GM of the PGCIL in Dimapur but also spoke to him over the phone. “He had promised that the height of the high tension wire would be raised but so far he has not done anything,” said Tripathi while speaking to The Morung Express. When the newspaper asked to be put in touch with the GM, he said, “I don’t know his name or number.”
While acknowledging that they do not understand difficulties that the PGCIL faced in rectifying the issue, both officials refused to acknowledge their own Department’s slack on the matter.
The sagging cables have not just electrocuted wildlife but sparks emanating from them have also led to a forest fire in February this year, informed Jess Murry, Chairperson of Green-Succession Of Nagaland State (SONS).
“We brought the issue to the notice of the Sanis Village Council Chairperson who also wrote to the PGCIL about rectifying the low hanging power lines to safeguard elephants as well as human beings. But they have turned a deaf ear to the issue, which means they give no value to animal or human life,” said a disturbed Murry.
It may be recalled that Green-SONS helped save a 30-45 days’ old elephant calf that had separated from its herd on April 7. The WW has expressed gratitude to the team for their efforts; the calf they saved is now “under safe custody at Intangki National Park with veterinary doctors monitoring its health,” stated the WW's press release.
Green-SONS is dedicated in its efforts to protect wildlife. In this case, “if the Forest Department doesn’t lodge a case under the Wildlife Protection Act, we will,” vowed its Chairperson.
