Karnataka HC orders notice to escoms on electrocution of elephants

Bengaluru: The high court on Friday ordered notice to electricity supply companies in the PIL on electrocution of elephants. A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind directed these companies to submit their responses by August 12.

The bench was hearing the suo motu PIL registered on June 14, 2024, taking note of the media reports about the death of an elephant named Ashwathama. The court had noted that while elephant Ashwathama died in Mysuru, there was one more death of an elephant in Chikkamagaluru district and two other deaths in Kodagu district. All these deaths had occurred due to electrocution. 

At the hearing, the state government informed the court the steps taken  - such as railway barricades, solar fencing and elephant-proof trenches - implemented by the forest department. The advocate submitted that several electrocution incidents had taken place due to sagging power lines passing through the forest area as well as illegal electrical fencing put up by the farmers drawing power directly from these power lines. It was further informed that there is a need for regular maintenance, to be carried out by agencies like Hescom, Mescom, Chescom. The counsel said that various letters addressed to these companies in this regard have not yielded any response.

The advocate stated that physical barriers such as railway barricades have been erected for a length of 332.62 kms, to keep away the elephants. Similarly, solar fencing along 3,426 kms has been laid and elephant-proof trenches have been dug for 2,420 kms along the forest area. The court was told that elephant task forces have been created in eight districts having a significant number of human-elephant conflict cases. In addition steps have been taken by constituting anti-poaching camps as well as to track the movement of the elephant and to alert the villagers through SMSes and announcements.

In regard to the death of elephant Ashwathama, the state government claimed that the death was not due to electrocution but because of liver and pancreas issues.