Draft action plan to curb elephant deaths by December end: Govt tells Orissa HC

The affidavit said the state government is preparing a Wildlife Offence Database from the year 2000-2001 for four Schedule-1 species which will be completed by December 15

Published on: Nov 17, 2022, 13:13:33 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Amid rising elephant deaths in Odisha, the state government in an affidavit told Orissa high court that a draft comprehensive action plan to curb elephant deaths due to poaching, electrocution and train accidents will be implemented by December-end this year.

The task force will submit a report on execution of its plan by January 18, 2023. (File image)

During the hearing of a PIL filed by a Cuttack-based wildlife activist seeking amendment to the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972 on the lines of the Wildlife (Protection) (Assam Amendment) Act 2009, the joint task force (JTF) comprising members of forest department, Odisha police and wildlife activists submitted that all elephant corridors will be identified in Odisha and people living near them sensitised on the protection of the pachyderms.

Also Read: Orissa HC approves constitution of task force to curb elephant poaching

The JTF in the affidavit said the electricity distribution companies have already been consulted to address the issue of elephant deaths on account of electrocution.

The affidavit further said the state government is preparing a Wildlife Offence Database from the year 2000-2001 for four Schedule-1 species (elephant, tiger, leopard and pangolins) which will be completed by December 15.

In 2022-23, at least 54 elephants have died in Odisha with a majority of them falling to electrocution, poaching and train accidents.

During the hearing, the HC bench comprising chief justice S Muralidhar and justice MS Raman asked the joint task force to take into account crop loss suffered due to the man-elephant conflict.

The task force will submit a report on execution of its plan by January 18, 2023.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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