APDCL to Prevent Jumbo Deaths, Covered Conductors to be Installed

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Sept 20: In a bid to prevent electrocution of jumbos, the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) has taken up a project to install covered conductors for power transmission along Kaziranga National Park.

“As part of the APDCL’s ambitious plan to modernize power distribution and transmission system, the company has decided to install covered conductors along a frequented elephant corridor in Kaziranga National Park. Two power feeders with a stretch of 11 km will be covered by the covered conductors,” State Power Minister Topon Kumar Gogoi told The Sentinel recently.

An APDCL official said the covered conductors are made of cables with multiple layers of cover, like armored wires. Such conductors have greater longevity, no leakage and are less prone to damage by environmental and natural causes, like high wind or storm, among other advantages, he said.

“The covered conductors are the future of over-head power transmission. Even though the cost of installing such conductors is very high, some of the States have already installed such devices to ensure safe power transmission. For the first time we are installing covered conductors at a length of 11 km from Hatikhuli (Kohora sub-station) along Kaziranga,” the official said.

A Forest department official while appreciating the APDCL’s project said use of the covered conductors will lower the risk of electrocution for elephants passing through the area and cross through NH-37 from Kaziranga to higher land in Karbi Anglong district.

In 2016-17, altogether 21 elephants were electrocuted across India and Assam had recorded the highest number (15) of such cases. In November 2017, an elephant was electrocuted at Bijulee tea estate near Numaligarh under Murphuloni beat office in Golaghat district allegedly because of the negligence of APDCL. The elephant was electrocuted after it came into contact with a live high-tension electric cable.

Even though with respect to ‘Project Elephant’, chief wildlife wardens have been asked repeatedly to take up the issue with electricity departments to prevent sagging of electric transmission lines and maintenance to minimum ground clearance as per Rule 77 of Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, the Power department in Assam did not take concrete and effective steps to prevent jumbo electrocution.