Chhattisgarh High Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the death of elephants in the state and reprimanded the Energy Department. Taking cognizance of the incidents of death of elephants and other wild animals due to electrocution in the state, the Court sought clarification from the Energy Department and asked What action was taken against the officers responsible for the incident.
Officials said that a two-member bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Dutta Guru, taking cognizance of the incidents of death of elephants and other wild animals due to electrocution in various areas of the state, is hearing the case as a PIL. Has been.
what action was taken
Giving information on the matter, officials said that the court has also sought clarification from the Secretary of the State Energy Department and the Managing Director of the Electricity Distribution Company after the death of three elephants in Raigarh district. The High Court has asked what necessary steps have been taken to protect wild animals. The court asked what disciplinary action has been taken against the officers responsible for these cases. The next hearing in the case will be on November 20.
Elephants die due to electrocution
Recently in the state, three female elephants including a cub died due to electrocution in Chuhkimar forest area of Raigarh forest division. While hearing this case, the High Court said that due to the negligence of the electricity department, he died after coming in contact with the 11 KV electric wire which was hanging barely three-four meters above the ground.
The court said, when there is a clear rule that the electric wires passing through agricultural areas and forest areas should be at least 7.5 meters above the ground, then why was it not followed. And this rule that insulated cables should be used instead of open electrical wires was also not followed.
78 deaths since 2001
During this hearing, the High Court told that since 2001 till now, 78 elephants have died due to electrocution in the state. In the last few days, many wild animals have died due to electric shock in the state. A wildlife activist filed a petition in the High Court and said that on November 1, 2024, a baby elephant died due to electrocution in Takhatpur forest range of Bilaspur forest division. Apart from this, on October 10, three bears also died due to electrocution in Kanker. In the month of October itself, three people have died after getting hit by electric wires laid for hunting wildlife.
