Expressing grave concern over the recent killing of three elephants on a railway track in Nagaon district by a speeding express train, State Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma said the Railways should take precautionary measures with the help of the Forest department to check such unfortunate incidents across Assam in future. Brahma also sought forgiveness from the people of the State on the death of these three wild elephants.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Brahma said the Railways have been told to use high tech systems like thermal sensors on rail tracks to detect any movement in advance. “Earlier, the Forest department requested the Railway authorities to take precautionary steps on the movement of wild elephants across rail tracks that pass through forested areas, but the Railway authorities didn’t follow it up,” Brahma said, adding, “the Forest department, after identifying some areas, stated that speed limit of trains passing through such areas should be regulated. The Railway authorities were requested to reduce train speed to 20-km per hour while passing through such areas.”
The Forest minister said a discussion would be held on these issues with the Railway authorities tomorrow.
Brahma also said vigilance would be increased by forest guards at elephant corridors cutting across rail tracks passing through forested areas across the State. “A step was taken to clean up forested patches along both sides of railway tracks in certain areas to bring about better visibility for forest patrolling teams and train drivers. Watch camps will also be constructed wherever required,” she added.
On the rising incidents of man-elephant conflicts in the State, the Forest minister said, “We are trying to rope in local people, NGOs, joint forest committees to deal with this grave problem. On most occasions, wild elephants come out of their habitation in search of food. If we can make food sufficiently available in forests for these elephants, it will automatically reduce their movement to human habitations. Sometimes elephants from neighbouring Meghalaya and Bhutan also stray into Assam in search of food.”
Brahma said the elephant population has considerably increased in Assam. “As per 2011 elephant census, the State has 5,620 elephants,” adding, “After I took charge as Forest minister, 7 elephants have died from accidents, two elephants were poisoned to death and one was gunned down.”
The Forest minister also said the State government is planning to establish an institution for wildlife health experts so that proper medical care can be provided to injured wild animals. “Though we have veterinary doctors, still we need wildlife health experts for special care to injured wild animals,” she added.