BHUBANESWAR: Worried over the recurring incidence of electrocution, the State Government has decided to replace single and double poles with elephant-friendly electricity structures in districts where the jumbos are most vulnerable. To avoid the electrocution, narrow based lattice structures (NBLS) will be established in Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj by replacing the single and double poles in all 11 KV and 33 KV lines in future. Chief Wildlife Warden Janardan Dibakar Sharma had a round of meetings with distribution companies as well as the top officials of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Ltd recently. It was decided that the new structures will be installed in Keonjhar district on a pilot basis. The NBLS towers will replace the single and double poles on a pilot mode by the distribution utilities in consultation with the Divisional Forest Officers. It will be replicated in all elephant corridors in phases subsequently. Besides, under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana, all the 11 KV and 33 KV lines will be constructed along with vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs). The implementing agencies and the distribution utilities will have to consult the DFOs to take immediate measures. The Chief Wildlife Warden has directed that maintenance of all the existing lines in the forest areas must be taken up on an urgent basis by the distcoms for installation of the safety measures. Besides, circuit breakers, spike guards on the poles will have to be taken up. In the vulnerable areas as well as elephant movement regions, low tension lines will be gradually replaced by cables. For this, the electricity utilities have been asked to stay in contact with the DFOs for upgradation. That apart, regular and periodical inspection has to be taken up. Sharma has also directed the companies to initiate prompt action against illegal hooking in the overhead lines which often results in sagging and cause deaths. “If that is not done, their abetment to crime will be inferred and due action will be taken,” he said. During 2004-05 and 2009-10, at least 39 elephants were killed by electrocution. In 2004-05, at least 17 cases were reported. Although the incidence dropped, it had been on a rise for the last three years. Interestingly, Odisha is among the states which report the highest number of electrocution cases in India.
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