A joint meeting of officials from Forest Department and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has resolved to take various measures to prevent jumbo deaths due to electrocution.
The meeting held on Friday was attended by Chief Conservator of Forests, Conservator of Forests (Coimbatore Circle), District Forest Officer, Forest Veterinary Officer (Coimbatore Circle), senior engineers, assistant engineers from TANGEDCO, members from Osai NGO and WWF India.
The meeting was held following electrocution of three elephants inside a private farm near Mettupalayam in January.
Accordingly, Forest Department will share reports on the presence and daily movement of elephants in forest fringes to the TANGEDCO.
The meeting decided to prepare hotspot mapping of vulnerable areas to be shared with TNEB officials. Crop pattern of these places will also be studied with the help of NGOs for increasing monitoring activities during harvesting season.
Officials have resolved to conduct joint surprise patrolling by the two departments during night to scrutinise illegal tapping of power for electric fencing. While ex-servicemen squad of TANGEDCO will undertake special joint patrolling with the Forest Department officials in sensitive areas, officials of TANGEDCO, Forest Department, Coimbatore (rural) district police and Revenue Department will collect intelligence report on illegal tapping. Officials said that a discussion with district administration and Coimbatore (rural) district police will also be conducted within a week.
TANGEDCO and Forest Department will work together to take legal action against offenders under Wildlife protection Act, 1972.
As part of the joint initiative, a one day sensitisation programme for front line staffs of TANGEDCO and all stakeholders in all ranges of Coimbatore circle will be conducted.
The officials will later conduct awareness activities for people living in villages lying close to sensitive areas.
