Apex court tells Odisha govt to notify elephant corridor within three months

The bench of justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai asked the Odisha government to notify the Hadgarh-Kuldiha-Similipal elephant corridor in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts

Published on: Mar 4, 2022, 24:17:10 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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In a boost to elephant conservation efforts, the Supreme Court has directed the Odisha government to notify an elephant corridor, among the 14 proposed by the state government, within the next three months.

The 14 proposed corridors will span a total area of 870.61 sq kms

Disposing a petition, the bench of justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai asked the Odisha government to notify the Hadgarh-Kuldiha-Similipal elephant corridor in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts as a conservation reserve under Section 36 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The bench also asked the state to implement a comprehensive wildlife management plan before permitting any mining activity in the eco-sensitive zone.

The Hadgarh-Kuldiha-Similipal elephant corridor is one of 14 proposed by the Odisha government in 2011. The 14 proposed corridors will span a total area of 870.61 sq kms with a length of 420.8 km and width ranging from 0.08 km to 4.6 km. In August 2021, the National Green Tribunal had ordered the notification of the corridors under the Environment (Protection) Act,1986. However, the state government has not taken any action in the matter so far.

An elephant corridor is a linear path which not only facilitates movement of elephants from one habitat to another, but also helps them intermingle and breed. These corridors also reduce the scope of human-animal conflict.

The SC order came in response to a petition filed by Binay Kumar Dalei, a stone quarry lease holder. He filed a plea against the NGT’s order in February 2020 that no mining would be permitted within and in the vicinity of Hadgarh-Kuldiha-Similipal elephant corridor.

The NGT order came following a petition by NGO Rural Organisation for Social Empowerment, which alleged that 97 stone quarries located south of the Hadgarh Kuldiha elephant corridor were causing distress to the elephants that use the path all year round.

Elephant conservationists remain sceptical of the state government’s action in the matter since the top court issued orders for only one corridor. “If the state government notifies all the 14 corridors, then no mining activity can be carried in any of those area. More than major minerals, the mining of minor minerals like stone and laterite is a huge business with everyone benefitting from it. The stone quarry lobby is very powerful in Odisha and they would not allow notification of the corridors. The only way the corridors can be notified is by hauling up the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and chief wildlife warden for contempt of court,” said Mohanty.

The PCCF refused to comment on the matter.

Elephant deaths in the state have been on the rise for some time. According to data available with the state government, while 33 elephant deaths were reported on average between 1990-2000, the number went up to 46 between 2001 and 2010. Since 2010, on an average, 76 elephant deaths are being reported each year. In 2021-22, at least 68 elephant deaths have been reported in the state.

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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