Company wires kill elephants,Orissa wants Central funds to fix them

Orissa,which has almost 80 per cent of all elephants in eastern India,has seen 110 of them killed by electrocution in the last 11 years.

The Wildlife Society of Orissa,an NGO,surveyed low-hanging lines in Dhenkanal district,where a large number of elephants live,and found these sagging at 147 locations. A list was handed over to the government two months ago.

Orissa’s four power distribution companies (WESCO,SOUTHCO,NESCO and CESU) have been citing lack of funds to repair the lines.

Principal chief conservator of forests Priyanath Padhi told The Indian Express that a decision has been taken to request the MoEF for permission to use CAMPA funds,though he is not sure if it is a feasible idea. “As the energy department has said the distribution companies can’t repair the lines,we are thinking if we can use CAMPA for that. But the MoEF has to take the decision,” he said.

MoEF officials say it would be a bad idea. “We will soon take a decision on Orissa’s proposal,but using CAMPA funds for works of private power distribution companies would send out a wrong signal. Tomorrow the Railways might ask for CAMPA funds to prevent killing of elephants by speeding trains,” said an official in the CAMPA division.

CAMPA funds comprise collections from industries and government organisations for diversion of forest areas to non-forest purposes. The core principle is that CAMPA funds would be given back to state governments for undertaking measures to conserve the forests and wildlife and to mitigate the impact of such diversions. Orissa got Rs 270 crore in 2009 and 2010 and is expected to get another Rs 250 crore this year.

Members of the National Board of Wildlife have questioned the request. Former NBW member Belinda Wright,executive director of Wildlife Protection Society of India,said,“If CAMPA funds are essentially paybacks by corporates,how can it be given back to them? To benefit the environment you are taking on one hand. Handing over the same to those people to benefit wildlife and the environment would be wrong.”

Another NBW member,Biswajit Mohanty,said if the MoEF gives approval,this would open the gates to all other private companies. “If the companies don’t have the money to repair their electricity lines,simply cancel their licences,” he said.

The National Board of Wildlife is expected to meet in December to discuss the rise in elephant electrocutions in Orissa. Additional director general (wildlife) in the MoEF Jagdish Kishwan,also in charge of Project Elephant,said,“It’s sad. We are really concerned about the deaths and have written several letters to the Orissa government.”