1 day ago
Bengal Proposes Five-Year Power Cuts After Elephant Deaths
Seven elephants in West Bengal have died after touching fences carrying illegal electric current.
Some farmers use these fences to keep elephants away from their crops.
The forest department says four deaths happened in north Bengal and three happened at Salbani.
The three at Salbani were a mother elephant and her two calves.
Forest Minister Manoj Oraon says the department will ask the state electricity company to cut offenders’ power for at least five years once their offence is proved.
The department also plans to take legal action under a wildlife protection law.
Officials say existing monitoring and awareness efforts have not stopped the deaths.
A wildlife conservationist welcomed the proposed measure.
Seven elephants have died in West Bengal after contacting illegally electrified fences in the past four months.
Forest Minister Manoj Oraon said the department will ask WBSEDCL to disconnect offenders’ electricity for at least five years once their offence is established.
The proposed power disconnection would be additional to legal action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Four deaths occurred in north Bengal, and three elephants—a mother and her calves—died at Salbani on September 27.
Officials said illegal connections from homes or irrigation lines were used to electrify iron fences protecting fields from elephants.
- Who
- West Bengal’s forest department, forest minister Manoj Oraon, and people accused of setting up illegally electrified fences.
- What
- The department will propose disconnecting offenders’ electricity for at least five years, alongside legal action, after seven elephant deaths.
- Where
- West Bengal, including north Bengal and Salbani in West Midnapore.
- When
- The deaths occurred over the past four months; the department’s decision was made at a meeting on Saturday.
- Why
- Elephants were electrocuted after coming into contact with illegally electrified fences erected to keep them out of agricultural fields.
Key facts
- Elephant deaths
- Seven in the past four months
- Proposed electricity penalty
- Disconnection for at least five years after an offence is established
- Legal action
- The department says it will act under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- North Bengal deaths
- Four
- Salbani deaths
- Three, including a mother and her two calves, on September 27
- Reported power sources
- Illegal taps from domestic connections or irrigation lines
- Recipient of proposal
- West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
Quotes
Animesh Bose
Wildlife conservationist based in Siliguri
“We will propose to WBSEDCL that the electricity connection of an accused person be disconnected for at least five years once the offence is established. People should understand that putting illegal energised fences in fields can lead to such consequences.”
telegraphindia.com
“We had urged foresters to take stringent action against such people and welcome this new proposal.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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