Boinda: Seven elephants died after coming in contact with loosely hanging electric wires at Kamalang in Dhenkanal October 27, 2018. Since then, there has been a question mark on safety of these animals due to dangling wires passing through in the elephant corridors of Angul district.
Thereafter, the state government had issued an order to keep live wires at safe height so that animals can’t touch it. Despite this directive, there are electricity wires still hanging precariously at different places in Handapa range under Athamallik forest division.
For one year, high tension wires are loosely hanging in elephant corridor from Kurumatap via Gundurinali to Similia. The energy department has not taken any step to set thing right and ensure safe movement of elephants in the area.
Locals, wildlife activists and ecologists have expressed concern over the issue. Utter negligence for the safety of elephants has caused resentment among people of Gundurinali.
The villagers on their own had pushed up the dangling wires by bamboo poles. “Elephants are routinely moving in the area. A 3KV LT line of an irrigation project has been drawn in the area. The wires are dangling dangerously. We had apprised the officials of the TPCODL office, but no step is being taken to uplift the wires to a safe height,” villagers lamented.
Though they have raised the wire with support of bamboo, they hang loosely after a gust of wind.
Tikan Sahu, Arun Sahu, Dhaneswar Sahu of Gundurinali village said that for a long time, the elephant corridor is fraught with danger from hanging wires.s Mishap can happen anytime if things are not set tight in time, they noted. Sumant Behera, sarpanch of Kurumatap, said the electricity office was issued a letter to keep the wires at safe height, but no step has been taken till date.
Besides, 11KV wires are dangerously hanging at Rainali, Kantapada, Maimura and Tapadola areas. In 2012, Enzen agency had taken up the maintenance of the transmission lines. In 2020, Tata company had taken up its maintenance, but it has not set the things right, the villagers alleged.
They demanded that the elephant corridor be made safe as soon as possible, Athamallick DFO Ananda S said the TPCODL has been intimated through a letter to raise the height of all LT and 11KV lines with high utility poles in the elephant corridor.
SDO of TPCODL, Sipak Das said that step will be taken soon to keep the dangling transmission wires at safe height in the elephant corridor.
PNN