The Hindu : Kerala News : Measures to save elephants sought

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

Measures to save elephants sought

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom writes to Union Railway Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has written to Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad seeking measures to prevent wild animals from being fatally knocked down by trains operating between Palakkad and Coimbatore.

In a letter to the Union Minister, Mr. Viswom recalled that more than 17 wild elephants had been killed in the Palakkad-Coimbatore sector during the last three years. Last Monday, three elephants were killed.

The Forest Minister noted that the track between Kanjikode and Walayar had lots of embankments as the rails were laid in tunnels dug along rocks. Most of the accidents happened when elephants and deer entered the tunnel. They were not in position to escape from the track because of steep embankments. These should be removed to facilitate free movement of animals.

The railway track, he said, passed through the Walayar reserve forest of Kerala between Kanjikode and Walayar stations. There are two lines passing through these stations – ‘A’ line for trains coming from Coimbatore to Palakkad and ‘B’ line for trains from Palakkad to Coimbatore. The ‘A’ line passes along the Palakkad-Coimbatore National Highway. Normally, elephants do not come to the ‘A’ line and hence there was little chance of their death on that line. However, the ‘B’ line passes through the reserve forest and all the train-related accidental deaths of wildlife took place on that line. The movement of trains may be restricted along that line between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Besides, the speed of all trains should be reduced to less than 50 km along the 10-km stretch between Kanjikode and Walayar.

Passengers should be sensitised at the Palakkad Railway Station and Coimbatore Railway Station through announcements and hoardings against throwing litter and plastic waste in the forest area, as animals are attracted by them.

Engine drivers should sound horn while passing through the entire route to alert animals.

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