Elephants, Wildlife and Power Lines
Each year, numerous animals, including large mammals like elephants, fall victim to electrocution from power lines traversing forested regions in India. To mitigate these fatalities, the standing committee of India's National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has introduced guidelines for the upkeep of existing power lines and the establishment of new electrical infrastructure to minimize wildlife disturbance in protected areas.
Official data indicates that approximately 50 elephants are electrocuted annually in India. These majestic creatures often encounter poorly maintained power lines and electrical setups within their forest habitats, leading to their untimely deaths.
The most impacted regions in India
The regions most impacted by this issue include Odisha, Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
According to recent data, the state with the highest number of elephant deaths due to electric power supply in India is Odisha. Reports indicate that a significant number of elephant fatalities in Odisha are caused by electrocution from power lines, particularly in areas where elephants roam to forage for food.
Odisha topped the list with 322 deaths, followed by Jharkhand (291), West Bengal (240), Assam (229), Chhattisgarh (183) and Tamil Nadu (152). As many as 392 elephants have died in the past five years since 2019-20 of which 137 deaths were unnatural.
Safeguarding Elephants & Power Lines
To address this issue, the wildlife expert panel of India's environment ministry has proposed a nationwide strategy for the long-term planning of electricity grid networks. The panel's recommendations include burying transmission lines underground, installing reinforced electric poles with spikes to deter elephants from rubbing against them, elevating sagging overhead power lines, and removing defunct solar-powered fences to prevent wildlife from coming into contact with these hazardous structures.
This decision was made during the July 18, 2019, meeting of the NBWL standing committee, chaired by India's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar.
If these measures are implemented as planned, they could save hundreds of animals in India from electrocution each year. Statistics reveal that elephants are particularly affected, with around 50 elephants dying from electrocution annually since 2009. In the years 2015-16 and 2017-18 alone, 178 elephants were killed by electrocution across the country.
HVDS (High Voltage Distribution System)
Outdoor HT Transformer Boots
Silicone Line Covers
Substation Shrouds
At Shine Industries, we are designing, developing & manufacturing Power Cable Accessories and Electrical Insulation Products for Switch-gear Industry, Transformer Industry, Transmission & Distribution Industry.
