Expressing concerns over the electrocution of elephants, the Orissa High Court has directed four power distribution companies in Odisha to chalk out a time-bound plan to survey of all villages which have witnessed movement, attacks, or crop destruction by wild animals, as well as those which have seen the deaths of wild animals due to electrocution.
The Orissa HC took strong exception to the deaths of 18 elephants and 20 people in man-elephant conflicts over the past two months. Of the 18 elephant deaths, four jumbos died after coming into contact with live power lines.
“In the considered view of the Court, not enough steps have been taken to prevent deaths of elephants due to electrocution in Odisha. This is despite the Comprehensive Action Plan being made available to the distribution companies for nearly two months now,” observed a division bench comprising Chief Justice S. Muralidhar and Judge G. Satapathy.
