Elephant conservation: Cesc proposes insulated cables

Project would approximately cost Rs 60 crore

With a large population of elephants in Karnataka, sagging power lines and illegally electrified fences are among the major causes of elephant deaths.

In order to prevent it, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) has sought funds from the State government to install insulated electric cables in regions where the density of elephants is relatively high.

An estimated 6,000 elephants are reported to be present in Nilgiri Biosphere region, which is spread across Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Compared to other reserves in the region, the number of elephants is more in Nagarahole National Park and Bandipur Tiger Reserve of the State.

Since 2009-10, a total of 66 elephants have died of electrocution in the State. During the year 2014-15 alone, eight elephants have succumbed to electrocution in Mysuru circle, which consist of Mysuru, Hunsur and Mandya forest divisions.
Animal conservation

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bhagya Naik, Director (Technical), Cesc, said, installing insulated cables would support the animal conservation programmes in the region. “While conventional cables are live and touching them would result in electrocution, accidental contact with insulated cables will not be lethal to the elephants,” he said.
He said, the project would cost approximately Rs 60 crore.

“We have requested the State government to sanction the funds for the project in the coming budget,” he said.

Sources said, the insulated cables will be installed near villages on the fringes of forests in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Hassan districts, where the movement of elephants has been well documented.

Plans of the Cesc to install underground cables in regions where elephants were prone to electrocution has been abandoned.

 “Insulated cables will be a better alternative than laying underground cables,” sources added.

Elephant corridor

Besides the recent proposal, Cesc had also taken up works in 16 taluks of the Elephant corridor, where 1,313 kilometer of High Tension and Low Tension lines were surveyed and 6,280 intermediate poles were installed to avoid the lines from sagging.

Cesc sources said, works on installing intermediate poles is under progress, with the corporation working to install a total of 40,006 intermediate poles in the 16 taluks.