Aerial bunched cables to avert electrocution of elephants in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

Udhagamandalam: In a bid to curb elephant deaths by electrocution caused by low-slung overhead wires, the forest department has recommended aerial bunched cables to replace bare lines in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).
The cables will soon be introduced on experimental basis in a 5km stretch between Thorapalli and Theppakadu, the only stretch having power supply in the core area of MTR.
Live wires that are exposed or sagging in the core area of MTR pose a risk to wild animals, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden Srinivas R Reddy said. “The stretch from Thorapalli to Theppakadu will soon be covered by aerial bunched cable at a cost of 5 crore on a trial basis. The shielded cables will not be affected even if branches fall on them due to wind or rain,” he told TOI.
A proposal was sent to the government after consulting with TNEB. TANGEDCO will soon execute the project proposed by the forest department.
The department is also planning to identify problematic elephants in Hosur, Dindigul and other parts of the state, radio collar them and monitor their movement, Reddy said. “This project will include a command-and-control centre, telemetric analysis and telemetric tracking of the identified animals,” said the official.
The government has sanctioned 10 crore for the department under the TN new initiative. While 5 crore will be utilized for aerial bunched cables, the rest will be used for the radio collar project.
“It is funded by the planning commission. The commission has accepted it in principle for sanction. We are waiting for the formal sanction and fund release,” Reddy added.