The high-tension transmission line project in South Kodagu district in Karnataka continues to be surrounded by controversy as wildlife experts unanimously voice their opinions against the project.
The proposed 400 kV high-tension line will pass through forests and coffee estates in the Kodagu district, which has been identified by the UNESCO as a sensitive bio-diversity hotspot with rich fauna and flora. According to Coorg Wildlife Society President, C. P. Muthanna, felling trees in the Kodagu forest in order to facilitate the installation of the high-tension transmission line through the forest will affect a lot birds and animals as they would lose much of their natural habitat.
“Elephants, tigers, leopards, foxes, and deer are found in the Nagarahole sanctuary situated in South Kodagu. If trees are felled inside the forest area, then where will the animals take shelter? With no option, they might end up in entering villages,” said a concerned Muthanna.
Animals like elephants are already being forced to venture out of the forest area into human habitations like paddy fields and coffee estates due to the shortage of food and water.
The high-tension transmission line will pass through the elephant corridor that runs through the Nagarhole Sanctuary all the way to the Brahmagiri hillocks near Kutta. Commencement of work on the project will adversely affect the movement of elephants through the corridor. Moreover, Muthanna also warns that the work might intensify the chances of human-elephant conflicts.
“A special ultra-sound signal flash light will be used in the high-tension transmission line. This flash light is likely to disturb the elephants,” informs Muthanna.
However, Muthana added that in response to a letter written to the Union Minister, Veerappa Moily, in January this year requesting a change in the proposed route, the State Government has appointed elephant expert Sukumaran to head a technical committee to explore an alternative route.
Speaking about its controversial high-tension transmission line project in Kodagu district, the India Chief Manager of Power Grid Corporation, C. D. Kishor, emphasized that the new line would not cause any problems to the pachyderms moving through the elephant corridor.
“We have taken enough measures to look into the safety of wild animals. In fact, to ensure that the trunks of elephants do not touch the line, the high-tension wire will be laid 15 meters above the ground level as against the normal height of nine meters,” said Kishor.
Editor’s Note
High Tension Electric Wires in forested areas is not just a problem in Karnataka, but also in Odisha, Bengal and several other states. Elephants need to migrate and keep moving from one place to another. It is critical for their daily survival needs and also for the herd to maintain a genetic diversity. The presence of such wires in elephant populated forests creates a constant risk of electrocution but these basic realties are not what the planners want to know or rather care about. Even if the wires are laid at a certain height that is deemed safe for wild animals, there have been past instances of illegal tapping of the wires by villagers to electrify the fences around their farms. There is no surety if this will not happen again. It is a constant struggle for biologists to convey the message of environment safety before such massive projects are chalked out.
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