Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has announced a Rs 7 crore plan for developing forest infrastructure, including 10 watchtowers along railway tracks in the district where seven elephants were run over by a train.
“Ten watchtowers will be set up at vulnerable points along the 168-km stretch and the Centre has offered a Rs 7 crore assistance package for railway development work like embankments, fencing and girders,” he told reporters on Friday after visiting Banarhat in Jalpaiguri district, where the elephants were killed by a goods train on September 23.
"The 10 watchtowers will be erected between New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar station since 44 elephant corridors fall on the stretch,” he said.
“I will meet (Railway Minister) Mamata Banerjee next week and urge her to instruct the railways to reduce the speed limit of trains to 20 to 25 kmph in the stretch passing through elephant corridors,” he said.