SC asks environment ministry, railways to evolve steps to protect elephants

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked the environment and forests ministry and railways to examine various suggestions and evolve steps to prevent death of elephants on rail tracks.

The apex court asked them to study measures adopted last year by Karnataka government that helped in minimising the casualty of tuskers.

It turned down the plea of Railways to modify its December 10, 2013 order asking to take steps to reduce speed of trains while travelling through forests inhabited by elephants.

The court had also proposed to change rail routes passing through forests and to discontinue the movement of goods trains at night in certain sections where such accidents have been witnessed.

Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Vikramajit Sen asked Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran to examine all these aspects and submit detailed suggestions.

"The MoEF and Railways will examine all these aspects and submit their detailed suggestions and steps they are going to take so that such untoward incident would not happen in future and wildlife could be protected," the bench said.

The Railways had sought modification of court's direction direction to divert fast-moving and night trains on Siliguri- Falakata section and for discontinuing the movement of goods trains at night between Siliguri and Alipurduar in West Bengal.

A PIL by Shakti Prasad Nayak sought direction for taking appropriate steps to prevent killings of elephants hit by fast-moving trains passing through their habitats and also by electrocution.

He has also sought the framing of guidelines including strategies to protect elephants from being victims of such incidents.