By SANTOSH MOHANTY
The Man-Elephant tussle has again come to a flashpoint after a tusker was electrocuted near forest beat under Pampasara range in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary in Angul district two days ago. The electrocution was done with the help of a booby trap that was laid on the ground.
While Divisional Forest Officer Dr Saroj Panda emphasized that the culprits will be brought to book soon, he was silent about how the poachers clandestinely laid down the trap bypassing high tension overhead electricity lines to materialize their plan. Panda and other forest officials did not think it fit to explain about the laxity on patrolling which is being undertaken on a regular basis to thwart any attempt of poaching of animals including the jumbos in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary.
Villagers at Jagannathpur alleged as the incident has occurred a few metres away from the forest beat house, the employees and officials who were present on duty on that fateful day must be investigated to find out the truth. The forest officials have been stressing that foot and patrolling on vehicles are taken up regularly, but how come they could not get slightest indication that the poachers have laid down traps to kill animals, the villagers questioned. They further said that the role of forest officials must be taken into account keeping in view of the incident that occurred in Athagarh forest division in which forest officials were involved in poaching of tuskers.
Worthwhile to note that over 100 km long overhead electricity lines across Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary have been posing a constant threat to the lives of animals particularly jumbos which are vulnerable due to their height. As the overhead lines are hanging precariously, the elephants come in contact with live wire and get killed. The electricity wing with the help of forest department has so far succeeded in insulating nearly 20 km of overhead lines. But, there is no confirmation either from the electricity or forest officials when the rest part of the overhead lines will be insulated or replaced by cables.
