Sagging wires still a threat to jumbos in Dhenkanal

Bhubaneswar: The threat of electrocution in elephant-rich Dhenkanal district still looms large as there are several sagging power lines dangling dangerously. This is the state of affairs despite the fact that seven elephants were electrocuted in Kamalanga forest area in November 2018 in the district due to sagging live wires.
There are at least 100 locations, where sagging of wires has been detected. The Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO), which works in the area, had surveyed and found that sagging wires are yet to be fixed. “The threat of pachyderms encountering sagging live wires is still very much there. The electric poles, the elephants rub while roaming the forest, are yet to have steel spikes around them. In the absence of spikes, the poles are likely to fall on the elephants while rubbing causing electrocution,” said WSO secretary Biswajit Mohanty.
In Kamalanga incident, the forest department then had put the blame on power distribution company Central Electricity Supply and Utility (Cesu) for overlooking the former’s warning.
Then principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sandip Tripathy had said in forest-energy department coordination meeting it was decided that power lines passing through elephant-rich areas should be insulated. The divisional forest officer (Dhenkanal ) had also said 136.57 km of lines passing through vulnerable pockets are underground. The forest department had said the executive engineer (Cesu) had been intimated about sagging lines at Kamalanga on November, 2017.
Official data reveal that electrocution due to sagging of wire only has killed 42 elephants in past eight years in the state. In Dhenkanal division alone, sagging wires since April 2010 till today have killed 19 pachyderms.
Chief executive officer (Cesu) Arun Bothra said he has issued instruction to field personnel to act swiftly on getting information on elephant movement in forests where overhead power cables are there. “Without wasting time in issuing alert or getting official letters to act, I have asked the personnel to act immediately,” said Bothra.
Despite repeated attempts, none from the forest department was available for comment on electrocution of elephants. WSO survey revealed that in Dhenkanal, sagging wires are found to be as low as five foot. According to guidelines, the power lines should run at a height of 17 ft. While an adult elephant’s height is nine ft, a fully grownup tusker is 12-ft tall.