REPORT OF THE FOUR MEMBER

COMMITTEE FOR ENQUIRY INTO THE

CAUSE OF DEATH OF ELEPHANTS DUE TO

ELECTROCUTION IN ORISSA

December 15, 2010

By

Sri A. K. Biswal- Chairman

Sri A. Jha

Sri P. Gaan

Sri P. K. Mohan-Representative of CWLW,

Orissa

Submitted to the

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Government of India

New Delhi

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Death of 3 elephants ( 1- tusker, 2- females) that took place at Telkoi on 31.07.2010at Durllavapur under Telkoi block under Keonjhar Division.

3

CONTENTS

Executive summary 6-11

Introduction 12-15

Section-1 An overview of the Electricity Distribution Companies and Rules &

Guidelines and Safety Practices Followed

16-24

1A Power Generation and Distribution Organization 16-17

1B The Design & Lay-out of the power supply system 17-18

1C Status of the protection system in the power supply

networks and current practices- observations

18-19

1D Transmission voltage wise specifications of pole etc 19-20

1E. (i) General practices Followed 20

1E. (ii) Safety Audit & Practices Followed 21

1E. (iii) Rules and Guidelines being followed and Practiced in the

field

21-24

Section-2 Elephant Electrocution Process and Reports 25-53

2A. Elephant Electrocution Process 25-26

2B Elephant Death Reports 27-53

2B i Cases where committee visited 27-34

2B ii Forest Department Reports of recent elephant electrocution

deaths

35-53

Section-3 Some Administrative Developments/ Initiatives in State of Orissa on

Elephant Electrocution Deaths

54-61

3A. Meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, Govt. of Orissa Date-

05-01-2010

54-55

3B. some of the important suggestions aired at different

coordination meetings

55

3C. Observation/ Directions by State Electricity Department 55-58

(i) View of Chief Electrical Inspector (T&D) Govt. of Orissa 55-56

(ii) View of Addl. Secretary, Govt. of Orissa, Deptt. Of Energy 57-58

(iii) Important Directions from Electricity Department, Govt. of

Orissa

56-57

3D. Important Directions from Forest and Wildlife Department,

Govt. of Orissa

58-59

3E. Discussion on safe practices in power distribution held on

02-05-2009

59-61

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Section- 4 Elephant Electrocution Death Analysis 62-77

4A. Analysis Of Forest Department Enquiry Reports 62-63

4B Elephant Death Statistics 63

4C. Elephant Electrocution Death Scenario 64-65

4D Analysis of Forest Department Views and Statistics 66-74

4E Analysis of Electricity Department views Statistics 74-77

Section-5 Critical Observations on Management Systems & Practices 78-93

5A. Observations on different Protection Systems 78-84

5B. Proactive action of Forest Department 85

5C. Additional Safety Practices 85

5D. Special Comments 86-89

5E. Wildlife offence prosecution scenario 80-91

5F. Need to amend Wild life Protection Act, 1972 92-93

Section- 6 Recommendations: 94-96

Annexure 97

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOrissa has about 1866 elephants, half of the population remains in the sanctuaries

and national parks of the state, which is around 5% of total geographical area of

state and this population does not cause depredation. Rest half of population

moves mostly in forest areas and some times, especially during crop season about

10 to 20% of population stray into human habitations and crop fields. The

elephants are long ranging animals, they move in herds, single too in the case of

males (tuskers), over a large area for food and procreation, resulting in frequent

man-elephant conflicts and many a times both human and elephant causalities

occur. The elephants are usually shy animals, are nocturnal in nature and they tend

to avoid human contact. But off late, an increasing shift from nocturnal to diurnal

movement has been noticed, and the elephants are now not bothered by the human

presence at the time of depredation and are found attacking the humans and their

habitations during their search of new types of foods like semi ripe paddy in fields,

stored grains, stored country made liquors and other brews and foods like stored

mahua flower etc. The human elephant conflict sometimes culminates in elephant

electrocution, apart from other mode of causalities of elephants. The elephants

have strong social bonding, due to which other animals try to rescue the

electrocuted animal and many a times they die in a pair or three. Tuskers are

sometimes loners, aggressive and exploring in nature for which they account

around half of the deaths due to electrocution. The death of elephants due to

various causes has gone up from the year 2002-03, averaging about 53 every year.

Electrocution deaths have been averaging about 8 deaths per year during the same

period.

Power distribution Set up in the State

Earlier the electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Orissa was under

the control of Orissa State Electricity Board, under Government of Orissa. Later

the OERC came into existence after implementation of Power System Reform

Act-1995 w. e. f. 1st April, 1996 and 1-Generation and 2-Transmission &

Distributions were separated into different streams.

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The Govt. of Orissa in pursuant to Orissa Electricity Reform Rules, 1998 assigned

the Power Distribution Function (33 KV and below) to four regional distribution

companies, namely the CESCO, the NESCO, the WESCO and the SOUTHCO, as

affiliates of GRIDCO. The properties and assets along with personnel were

transferred from GRIDCO to these four power distribution companies in

November, 1998.

The OERC is a statutory autonomous body under the PSR Act. 1996, has the

power to issue licenses for transmission and distribution, setting the tariff,

protection of the interest of consumers etc. also they take other measures. The

Electrical Inspectorate, a statutory authority under the Indian Electricity Act,1956

remains with the Govt. of Orissa.

The Distribution Companies receive 33KV power in substations, which is then

stepped down to 11KV and subsequently distributed using 11KV bare conductors

to the LT transformers for making 230 Volt supply to the consumers. However,

the Distribution Companies now prefer to jump off 2-phase 11 KV line (without

providing a circuit breaker) to consumer’s premises where the consumer puts up

the 11KV/0.24KV transformer for their 1-phase load. At the transformer end, the

kit kat fuse is provided on the incomer side of the LT transformer.

The distribution lines are in 33 KV, 11 KV, Medium Volt (MV), 400 Volt and 230

Volt. The height of the poles and span length shall be in conformity with ground

clearance as per I. E. Rules. Different safety clearances of EHT, HT and MV/LV

lines have been prescribed under Rule 77-80 of the Indian Electricity Rule, 1956.

33 KV and 11KV lines must have circuit breakers of appropriate capacity and fast

isolation of faults. In case of 11/.4 and 11/.24 distribution substation, the same

should be protected at HV side with breakers or HG fuse and at LV side with kit

kat fuse/MCB.

The Indian Electricity Rule, 1956 provides provision for periodical inspection and

testing (Rule 46) and monitoring of available protection devices (Rule 65), etc.

7

Elephant Electrocution Deaths:

Elephant electrocution deaths are occurring throughout the State, the figure are

available from 2000-01 till July 2010 which shows that the electrocution deaths

are rising, the peak was during 2004-05. Among the forest divisions maximum

electrocution deaths are happening in the divisions of Keonjhar and Sambalpur

(N). Other prominent divisions in which higher elephant electrocution deaths

reported are Angul, Bonai and Rayagada. As per the Forest Department maximum

casualties are reported from the jurisdiction of distribution companies of WESCO

and NESCO, but now CESU is no better too. The analysis reveals that maximum

electrocution deaths occur during the month of October. Other vulnerable months

are July, August, December and January. Most of the electrical accidents occur

within village limits, not far from forest. Most of the electrocution deaths occur in

11 KV distribution line. Multiple deaths on single days occur at different places,

Keonjhar Division is the worst performer, the multiple deaths implies that circuit

breaking mechanism either did not exist or did not perform as expected.

The electricity department statistics shows that tilting of the poles and brushing are

the major cause of the electrical accident apart from low ground clearance. All

these can be grouped under low ground clearance. This low ground clearance is

mainly due to long span length between the poles. However, the snapping of

conductor could happen also due to technical fault in the line like hot spot

persisting for a long time.

The Forest Department submitted different reports; as per their report the prime

reason of electrical accidents involving wild elephants is due to low ground

clearance. They have also pointed out about non-tripping of fuse on many

occasions. There have been incidences of intentional killing/poaching.

During last 8 years extensive electrification has taken place in rural Orissa

covering most of the villages; the electrical conductors are drawn enthusiastically

through forest areas. The distribution companies many a times haven’t maintained

adequate pole to pole distance, thus causing sagging and non maintenance of

conductor height in forest and village areas; inadequate fund, pressure on field

officials of the electricity department are few reasons of such action. There is a

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tendency to do electrification at lowest cost and at quickest time too. Elephants

especially tuskers being tall animals can reach up to 12-13 feet, by nature they are

adventurous, and pull down whatever comes in their contact and in the process get

electrocuted later followed by females and calves.

Administrative Developments:

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) during its brainstorming session on

protection of wildlife held on March 20, 2004 constituted a committee to prepare a

model project report on Rajaji National Park. Different files/guidelines were

consulted consolidated and measures for protection of wildlife from power

distribution lines of 33kv and below were formulated. This guideline is the prime

source of administrative directions for preventing electrocution deaths involving

wildlife.

Several meetings were held in the State of Orissa where specific directions were

given. The Chief Secretary also chaired a meeting; regular directions came from

Energy Department as well as from Forest Department. However, in spite of the

directions elephant electrocutions are occurring regularly. The directions are not

practiced with true spirit.

Several internal communications between the wings of the Energy Department

shows wide division within the same administrative set up. The statutory body

like Electrical Inspectorate is expressing their helplessness and non-

implementation of safety norms. The distribution companies also pointed out that

the Electrical Inspectorate are allowing charging of the installations even after

showing some deficiencies. It is apparent that the staff shortage in the distribution

companies has resulted in less frequent inspection of the lines. Appropriate fund

also is not available for the purpose, as a result the old unsafe condition is still

prevailing at different places. The coordination between the Forest and the Energy

Department is not showing desired trend. The voluntary wildlife warden as well

as the committee for prevention of electrocution is not seen in action.

Forest Dept staffs are not tuned to this kind of threat from electrocution till recent

past, and not much significant inter-departmental coordination with electricity

9

department existed earlier, as it was basically not felt as a necessity in the past in

most of the areas except Keonjhar and Sambalpur. But off late, several meetings at

state, circle and district levels are taking place. Now forest staff are conducting

more joint inspections and intimating about low level conductors to electricity

department. However, with low level conductors installed in forests and village

areas and appropriate fund is not available with electricity wing to rectify the

initial mistakes, the sagging conductors and unsafe conditions continue to exist in

many stretches. The forest departments with their meager and ageing staffs are not

able to drive the elephants in different direction, the electricity department

officials too are not able to switch off electricity in elephant movement areas. Not

always modern gadgets like GPS are available with cutting edge officials of forest

as well as electricity departments, information about exact location of elephant

herds are not always coming to district level. The forest department does not have

sufficient staff strength, mobility and funding available, to undertake this extra

work load of driving the elephants away from all unsafe low conductors, which are

actually are created by faulty implementation of electrification in rural areas which

is a hazard not only to wild animals but also to humans too, the committee came

across a cow herd man in Keonjhar district, his both the palms were cut off due to

his getting in contact with live electric conductors.

There is a great threat of theft of conductors by unscrupulous elements of society.

The law enforcement being poor in tribal and interior areas, such thefts take place

frequently. The electricity department does not want to keep tripping system/fuses

and want to keep the line charged. Had there been proper tripping mechanisms

/fuses in the electrical systems, then elephants mostly wouldn’t have died; they

would have survived with mild electric burns or other damages, which would have

worked as a deterrent, dissuading the elephants from entering into villages and

areas with electric lines.

Elephant Electrocution Death Mechanism-

The mechanism of electrocution is not well understood, in spite of its frequent

occurrence, no information is available regarding the threshold electric current that

could cause death of an elephant, neither any information is available regarding

the resistance of the elephant body. Taking advantage of two elephant deaths, one

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in Athagarh and the other in Hindol on the night of 7/8 of September, 2010, the

committee sprung up to take the measurement of resistance of the two elephants

on the 8th September 2010. The resistance of the body extremities from the trunk,

taken individually varied between 150-200 Kilo Ohms, that could allow around 33

mA of electric current to flow when the trunk finger touches a bare 11 KV power

line and with 4 legs of the elephant touching the ground, thus around 130 mA

could flow through the elephant body. For 415V/230V conductor the current

would be hardly 15 mA with all 4 legs touching the ground and trunk finger

touching he conductor.

Based on the data available for human body regarding the physiological effects of

electric current, and taking into account the body volume and mass of the elephant,

the current intensity passing through body of an elephant could be much lower,

and even on touching the 11 KV line by trunk, there appears to be a possibility of

saving the elephant from electrocution, should the power lines trip fast. It is,

however, felt necessary that the findings could be refined by measuring the

resistance of a live elephant and also knowing the physiological effects of the

electric current on an elephant.

The committee visited the electrocution site at Telkoi and the sub-stations at

Banspal and Telkoi and observed that the 11 KV main feeder from Banspal to

Telkoi as well as the 11 KV distribution lines for electrification of the villages,

were not using any circuit breaker as such. As there was no functional mechanism

available for fault clearing on the date of accident, the conductors continued to

feed fault even after grounding, causing the series of electrocutions. Now, the

manually operated circuit breaker has been taken out and an 80 Amp fuse wire

jumper provided at Banspal in Telkoi 11KV main feeder, still without a circuit

breaker, but slightly better in a sense that now at least the fuse could blow in the

event of a serious earth fault.

Cause of electrocution in the Telkoi case and in few earlier cases is due to

deficiency in design and layout of the power distribution system. In Telkoi case,

the animal came in contact with the hazardous bare (HT) conductor and fell on the

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ground along with the conductor, but the power line continued to feed the fault,

causing death of other two elephants that came to the rescue of the first one.

The status of protection devices in the power distribution networks of Orissa is far

from satisfactory, many old lines in the 33 kv/11 KV system have defunct circuit

breakers. In many places group circuit breakers are used because of shortage of

inventory. Most of the new extensions of distribution network under various

programmes (both Central and State) continue to operate without providing the

mandatory protective devices, by just taking 2/3 phase Tee-offs with jumper wires

or fuse wires used as jumpers. Many of the new lines are energized without

mandatory inspection. The chief electrical inspector of the State has expressed

helplessness in the matter.

Also, scientific study is needed to know the resistance of a live elephant and also

the physiological effects of electric current on an elephant body, so that elephant

centric improvised protection system could be suggested as per the mandate of the

committee. It may be noted that, except ELCB protection for hand held/house

hold applications, all other protections are not designed for human safety. In our

visit to Telkoi and Banspal it is observed that there was no protection even for the

electric system itself.

******

12

INTRODUCTIONElectrocutions of elephants are occurring throughout the State of Orissa under

different electrical distribution companies even after the attention of the

stakeholders are drawn time and again but without any noticeable result. Most of

the accidents involving the elephants occur generally in the 11 KV distribution

line due to various reasons, in the case of electrocution of 3 elephants in Keonjar

district, the locals blame the power distribution companies for their non-

maintenance of electrical lines. The Government of India constituted a four

member committee vide Office Memorandum No. 2-9/2002-PE dated 18th August,

2010 comprising of the following members (1) Sri A. K. Biswal, CF (Central),

Eastern Regional Office, Bhubaneswar, Chairman; (2) Sri P. Gaan, Retd. GM,

NALCO & Consultant Dastur Co. Ltd., Member (3) Sri A. Jha, Retd. G. M. & Ex-

Chief Safety Officer, NALCO, Member, (4) Sri P. K. Mohan, CF, Representative

of CWLW Orissa, with following terms and reference.

The Terms of Reference are:-

1. To examine the causes of elephant deaths in the present case and few

earlier cases.

2. To examine the status of protection system available in the electric line;

and

3. To suggest improvements to be adopted.

The Committee inspected the elephant electrocution death sites under different

divisions, interacted with officials of the Forest Department including PCCF

(Wildlife) and officials from Power Distribution Companies.

The report is prepared using already existing knowledge and resources made

available by Orissa State Forest Deptt., Energy Department, Electrical

Distribution Companies, and findings of previous committees etc. While carrying

out the field study, help of the resources of a local Engineering College, the

Silicon Institute of Technology and Prof. A. K. Tripathy, was also taken in

carrying out electrical measurements on dead elephants.

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Questionnaires on technical specifications, death events and prosecution were

created and circulated, which are enclosed in annexure, to various stakeholders

including forest department for data collection with an aim to collect critical

analytical data; also guidelines circulars and rules, compliance to the rules,

availability and status of the protection system, system of safety audit and analysis

for near miss incidents were asked for.

After collection of some data and field visits, analysis was done considering

various dimensions of the problem, which were both technical and managerial.

Available data was segmented to provide insight into some probable root causes of

the issues and also to explore some ‘Out of the Box’ solutions that could be

possible.

Objectives :-

The objective of this document is to present the observations and analysis within

general scope as defined below:

I. Investigation into electrocution deaths

II. How the elephants get electrocuted and study on dead elephants to

determine the DC resistance on the elephant body.

III. Analysis of different data

IV. Analysis of administrative developments in the Govt. of Orissa.

V. General Principles of Safety Management & Electrical Safety.

VI. Philosophy of Electrical Protection System.

VII. Specific studies and recommendations specifically about electrical

distribution that include :

a. Electricity distribution organization in Orissa

b. Design and lay out of power supply system

c. Status of Protection Systems available in the Power Distribution

Networks

d. Suggestion on managerial interventions

Elephant Scenario in Orissa:

In the beginning, the movement areas of elephants were not extensive, now their

14

movement in the state has expanded to 28 out of 30 districts. The elephants have

been recorded at some time or the other in 44 forest/wildlife divisions out of 50

divisions in the entire state and each year new areas are coming under their usage.

Approximately 50% of elephants are found in 11 of the 18 sanctuaries of the state.

The rest 50% of the elephants are found moving outside the sanctuaries and

wildlife areas from their conventional ranges, into new regions. In such newly

occupied areas people have little knowledge of wild elephants, which is giving

rise to regular man-elephant conflicts, many of these eventually lead to death of

human beings as well as the elephants.

An elephant needs to consume large quantities of food every day, they browse and

graze on a variety of plants-more than 75 species have already been recognized as

elephant fodder, and they may consume up to 150 kg of wet fodder. An elephants

in the wild may spend up to 14–19 hrs a day for feeding itself. In their search for

food, elephants keep moving from one forest area to another, the huge

requirement of food made them long-ranging. Also the migration of elephants

from one place to another is essential for better gene flow between populations.

The migration corridors linking one forest patches with another have been

fragmented; some portions of well-defined corridors have degraded to mere

passages. The guidance by seniors in the herd is also required for movement of

the herd in old migratory paths, else the herd gets ill directed which results in

severe man- elephant conflicts. The absence of older members in the herd deprive

the younger members to find out existing paths, so the older population must

remain alive, the identified routes must not change in their habitat.

Elephants range over big areas, the movement over a length of 250 km from

Lakhari in Orissa to Andhra Pradesh is known in this region. The studies on

elephants identifies home ranges over 600 km² of area for females in Nilgiris in

south India, where as for females in North India in Rajaji National Park the home

ranges is 184–326 km² and male home ranges occur between 188–407 km² of area.

Elephant Population in Orissa:

As per the 2010 census, in the State of Orissa, 1886 numbers of elephants are

found in wild which is about 7% of the total Indian elephant population, also the

15

Orissa elephant population constitutes about 12% of Indian adult tuskers. The

elephants of Orissa constitute nearly 72% of the total elephant population in the

eastern region, often called the ‘Central Indian population’, which includes

elephants from the state of Jharkahnd and southern part of West Bengal, and now

the states of Chhatisgarh and north-eastern Andhra Pradesh are also sharing the

eastern elephant range. The population of males and calves in elephant

population of Orissa is around 18% and 24%, respectively, which is a good sign

of viable population.

At birth, an elephant weighs around 90 kilograms, stands about three feet (1 m)

tall. The height at the shoulder of an adult is 6.6 to 9.8 ft (2 to 3 m) and the adults

weigh 2.25 to 5.5 tons (2,041 to 4,990 kg.).

The life span of Asiatic elephants is about 70 years. The male elephant reach

sexual maturity between 10–15 years of age, the female usually gives birth to its

first calf between 15 to 16 years of age. The gestation period of elephants is about

22 months, and the female usually gives birth to a new baby between every fourth

to fifth year. The death rate of elephants is about 2.8% of the total population

each year and the reasons of such deaths are many-such incidents include

accidents, retaliatory killings and poaching, etc.

Elephant Depredation- A Conflict

Depredation incidents are occurring or are ignited by a combination of different

burning issues, some of them are as follows:

Habitat loss, disintegration or alienation of habitats- Huge stretches of forestoccurred in the past, but now much under different land use. .

Loss of available diversity of food of elephants due to change in forestrypractices, like JFM which offered new but incomplete corridors for elephants.

Elephants no longer averse to human presence due to prolonged exposure tohuman population.

Agricultural crops lure the elephants for easier food.

******

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SECTION-1

An overview of the Electricity Distribution Company Setup,

Rules & Guidelines and Safety Practices Followed

1.A. Power Generation And Distribution Organisation

Electricity Generation, transmission and Distribution in Orissa prior to the “Power

System Reform Act-1995” was under the Orissa State Electricity Board under Govt. of

Orissa. The OERC came into being after implementation of the act w.e.f. 1st April,1996.

Simultaneously, the Generation and Transmission & Distribution functions were

separated into two streams. The Generation function was bifurcated into Thermal &

Hydro and the Thermal Power Generation was assigned to OPGC and the Hydro

Power generation was assigned to OHPC. The GRIDCO was created for Transmission &

Distribution(T&D) function.

Pursuant to the Orissa Electricity Reform Rules, 1998, the Govt. of Orissa assigned the

Power Distribution function(33 KV and below) to four regional distribution companies,

namely the CESCO, the NESCO, the WESCO and the SOUTHCO, as affiliates of

GRIDCO and the concerned properties and assets along with personnel were transferred

from GRIDCO to these four power Distribution Companies in Nov. 1998. However, the

management of the same was transferred w. e. f. 1st April,1999 by transferring 51%

share holding of GRIDCO to these DISCOM’s and GRIDCO retaining 39% of share

and the employees welfare trust was allotted 10% stake in the DISCO’s. The CESCO

was taken by AEG, an American Company, and the other three companies, namely

NESCO, WESCO & SOUTHCO were under Reliance Energy . The AEG has left the

site for quite sometime and it is now, renamed as CESU and directly managed by

GRIDCO.

The GRIDCO purchases power from the generation companies in the private, public and

joint sectors and the distribution companies do the distribution part involving operation,

maintenance as well as the construction of new lines. Two Govt. programmes, namely

17

RGGVY and BKJY are vigorously implementing the electrification programs for the

villages and hamlets in the state. The design and construction for the Rajeev Gandhi

Grameen Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) has been assigned to NTPC, OHPC & OPGC;

while the Biju Kutir Jyoti Yojana ( BKJY) is executed by the respective DISCO’s under

whose jurisdiction the area falls.

The OERC, is a statutory autonomous body under the PSR Act. 1996 with the

authority to issue licenses for transmission and distribution, setting the tariff,

safeguarding the interest of consumers and taking measures for making the electrical

industry efficient. The Electrical Inspectorate, a statutory authority under the Indian

Electricity Act, 1956 remains with the Govt. of Orissa.

1B. The Design & Lay-out of the power supply system:

The design and layout of the power supply system should be conforming to the IE Act -

1956 and the rules framed under that.

The normal design of the system must have provision of circuit breakers on the incomer

and outgoing side of the bus bar for each voltage system, incomer and out- going side of

each transformer and outgoing side of HT feeder. These circuit breakers must have

provision for fault isolation as per design. For LT distribution, Kit-Kat Fuse could be

used. The layout of the line should be as per the rules and guidelines, aimed to make it

beyond the reach of the human being. For forest areas, the guidelines are available from

the Supreme Court Empowered Committee, so that the elephant, the largest animal of the

forest could not touch the conductor.

The Distribution Companies receive 33KV power in substations, that are stepped down

to 11KV and distributed using 11KV bare conductors to the LT transformers for making

230 Volt supply to the consumers. But, these days, the Distribution Companies prefer

to jump off 2-phase 11 KV line (without providing a circuit breaker) to consumer’s

premises where the consumer puts up the 11KV/0.24KV transformer for their 1-

18

phase load. At the transformer end, the kit kat fuse is provided on the incomer side of the

LT transformer. Most of the lines under the RGGVY and BKJY have been extended in

this fashion.

As the bare conductors are allowed to pass over the vegetation, undulated terrain and

unguarded less number of poles, the norms for lay-out of the line are not maintained.

1.C. Status of the protection system in the power supply networks and

current practices- observations:

During the field visit to Telkoi, Hindol and Angul, it came to the notice of the committee

that circuit breakers were not available in the lines that caused the electrocution.

Based on this observation, a format was circulated to the power distribution companies to

supply information regarding availability of circuit breakers, and fast acting protective

relays for fault isolation, besides other aspects of technical supervision. Only, SOUTHCO

has responded with detailed information on the availability of circuit breakers in the HT

networks.

Following is the status for 11 KV outgoing feeders in the SOUTHCO:

Name of the Circle Number of outgoing

11KV feeders.

Number of Feeders

having Circuit

Breakers

Shortfall of

requirement Nos.

Brahmpur 77 23 54

Brahmpur city 33 29 04

Bhanjanagar 96 11 85

Raygada 41 0 41

Jeypore 121 07 114

Total 368 70 298

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It could be seen that except for the Brahmpur City circle, all other electricity

distribution circles have to manage power supply more in the absence of circuit

breakers.

Other power companies have belatedly submitted the details in the safety audit format,

but full details on availability of circuit breakers are not provided. The SOUTHCO have

submitted further details of their joint inspection procedure. Based on the information

received from other power companies it could be said that in substantial stations of the

HT distribution network the circuit breakers are not there.

Further, they are not providing any breaker at the newly jumped off point of 2/3 phase

11 KV lines, under the RGGVY/BKJY. M/s NTPC/NHPC and PGCL are assigned the

responsibility for creating the infrastructure for the Grameen Vidyutkaran Yojanas.

As Elephant population is available throughout the state, the non availability of

circuit breakers as primary protective devices, makes the bare HT conductors

highly vulnerable.

1.D. Transmission voltage wise specifications of pole etc. are indicated below:-

As per the information given by the distribution companies the distribution lines are in

33KV, 11KV, Medium Volt (MV) 400 Volt and Low Volt 230 volt. The pole

specification of the distribution lines are the following:

33KV- 9 meters and above depending upon the span length.

11KV- 8 meters above depending upon the span length and size of the conductor.

MV/LV- 7.5 meters and above depending upon the span length and size of conductor.

However, the height of support and span length shall be in conformity with ground

clearance as per IE Rules.

20

Other safety clearances of EHT, HT and MV/LV lines have been prescribed under Rule

77 to 80 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956. An extract of the rule is enclosed at

annexure.

The maximum span length between two HT poles is 100 meters whereas the same in

respect of MV/LV line is up to 50 meters. However, depending upon the field/ground

situation, poles are erected both in HT and LT line keeping in view the size of the

conductor and span length.

As regards the capacity of the feeding substations, the capacity starts from 630 KVA

onwards up to 1.6, 3.15, 5, 10 and 12.5 MVA and more.

33 KV lines and 33 KV substations shall be provided with VCBs of appropriate capacity.

In case of 11/.4 and 11/.2 distribution sub station, the same shall be protected at HV side

with drop out fuse or HG fuse and at LV side with kit kat fuse/MCB.

1.E.(i). General practices Followed

Information was received from the various power companies on general practices

followed in the field which is enclosed in the annexure. Also enclosed are the

information received on safety audit and practices followed by them.

Comments- the committee has observed that the electrical power distribution system in

the state of Orissa is very old and not maintainable as, many defunct circuit breakers are

awaiting replacement for years. The recent drive for electrification is allowed to be

executed disregarding the techno-legal requirements.

21

1.E.(ii) Important Rules and Guidelines of Indian Electricity Rules 1956

required to be followed

1. Rule 29 of the Indian Electricity Rules 1956;

i. All electric supply lines and apparatus shall be of sufficient ratings for power,

insulation and estimated fault current and of sufficient mechanical strength,

for the duty which they may be required to perform under the environmental

conditions of installation, and shall be constructed, installed, protected,

worked and maintained in such a manner as to ensure safety of (human

beings, animals and property).

ii. The material and apparatus used shall confirm to the relevant Specifications of

the (Bureau of Indian Standards) where such specifications have already been

laid down.

2. Rule -46 of Indian Electricity Rules 1956 provides provision for periodical

inspection & testing.

“Where an installation is already connected to the supply system of the supplier,

every such installation shall be periodically inspected and tested at intervals not

exceeding five years either by the Inspector or any officer appointed to assist the

Inspector or by the supplier as may be directed by the State Government in this

behalf or in the case of installations belonging to, or under the control of the

Central Government, and in the case of installation in mines, oilfields and

railways by the Central Government.

The forms of inspection report contained in Annexure IX-A may, with such

variations as the circumstances of each case require, be used for the purposes of

this sub-rule.”

22

3. Rule 63 of Indian Electricity Rules 1956;

• The supply of energy shall not be commenced by the supplier unless and until

the Inspector is satisfied that the provisions of rules 65 to 69 both inclusive

have been complied with and the approval in writing of the Inspector have

been obtained by him. Provided that the supplier may exercise the aforesaid

electric supply lines or apparatus for the purpose of tests specified in Rule 65.

• The owner of any high or extra-high voltage installation who makes any

additions or alterations to his installation shall not connect to the supply his

apparatus or electric supply lines, comprising the said alterations or additions

unless and until such alterations or additions have been approved in writing by

the Inspector.

4. Rule -65 of Indian Electricity Rules 1956 provides provision of testing &

monitoring of available protection devices.

a. Before approval is accorded by the Inspector under rule 63, the

manufacturer’s test certificates shall, if required, be produced for all the

routine tests as required under the relevant Indian Standard.

b. No new HV or EHV apparatus, cable or supply line shall be commissioned

unless such apparatus, cable or supply line are subjected to site tests as per

relevant code of practice of the (Bureau of Indian Standards).

c. No HV of EHV apparatus, cable or supply line which has been kept

disconnected, for a period of 6 months or more, from the system for

alterations or repair shall be corrected to the system until such apparatus,

cable or supply line are subjected to the relevant tests as per code of practice

of (Bureau of Indian Standards).

Formatted: Underline

23

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-rules (1) to (3) (both inclusive) the

Inspector may require certain additional tests to be carried out before charging

the installations or subsequently.

e. All apparatus, cables and supply lines shall be maintained in healthy and tests

shall be carried out periodically as per the relevant codes of practice of the

(Bureau of Indian Standards).

f. Records of all tests, trappings, maintenance works and repairs of all

equipments, cables and supply lines shall be duly kept in such a way that these

records can be compared with earlier ones.

g. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of all HV and EHV installations to

maintain and operate the installations in a condition free from danger and as

recommended by the manufacturer and/or by the relevant codes of practice of

the (Bureau of Indian Standards) and/or by the Inspector.

The information on practices followed by different power companies, as collected from

them is enclosed in the annexure. However, it came out during the field visit as well as

the perusing the letters of Chief Electrical Inspector of the State that the compliance to

the rules and guidelines has been far from satisfactory. It transpired while going through

the documents provided by the distribution companies that while taking over the

distribution network system from GRIDCO, all the 11 KV & 33KV feeders were not

provided with circuit breakers. In the meantime many circuit breakers have become

obsolete & many cases the spares are not available which requires to be replaced by new

one. Due to financial constraints till now in all the 33KV & 11KV feeders circuit

breakers have not been provided. In those cases the fault is isolated by HG fuse & AB

switch. During last three years a number of circuit breakers have been procured and are

being installed. It is expected that within coming two years all the feeders would be

provided with circuit breakers under CAPEX programme being taken up under the recent

24

Rs.2400Cr package by Govt. of India. This facts were eloquently brought out by the

power distribution companies during the meeting with the committee on 01.11.2010.

******

Dead tusker at Satkosia WL Sanctuary in Purunakote Wildlife Range on 25-06-09

25

SECTION-2

Elephant Electrocution Process and Reports

2.A. Elephant Electrocution Process

The data regarding physiological effects of electric current on elephant body are not

available. But, for human body, the threshold current is 30mA for 50 Hz AC for the

muscles to get paralysed.

The committee, therefore, tried to measure the electrical resistance of elephant body, so

as to approximate the level of electric current that could pass through its body, and work

out the strategy for survival of elephants against electrocution.

i. Athagarh natural Death Case tusker about 70 years old weight approximately 5

tonnes

Trunk to front Leg 186 kilo ohms

Trunk to rear Leg 196 kilo ohms

Trunk to tail 195kilo ohms

With AC generator voltage of 290 volts, the following ampere readings were

recorded :

Trunk to rear leg 3.7mA

Trunk to front leg 6.7mA

Trunk to tail 4.7mA

ii. Hindol-Electrocution case tusker, age about 25 years weight about 3-4 tones

Trunk to trunk 300 to 800k ohm( high resistance at midway

burnt area)

Trunk to rear left leg 130 k ohm

26

Trunk to rear right leg 350 k ohm( drying of the right side during

electrocution)

Trunk to front left leg 210 k ohm

Trunk to front left leg 80 k ohm

With the portable AC generator voltage of 190 volt to 200volts, the following were

current readings.

Trunk-to Left rear leg 3.1 mA

Trunk to rear right leg 3.4 mA

Trunk to tail 2.7 mA

Trunk to front left leg 1.9 mA

Trunk to front left leg 3.1 mA

Note- These studies are a beginning, further study may be taken up by the Wildlife

Institute of India to ascertain the resistance of the elephant body, to find out optimum

fatal current under different situations.

Elephants usually get in contact with live wire when they touch the overhanging

transmission lines accidentally while passing below the conductors out of their wild

instinct to check anything near to them, leads to shock and the rolled trunk around the

conductor is pulled back in a hurry when the shock is received along with the conductor.

Usually elephant being a huge animal can in one jerk break the conductor and the live

wire remains embedded inside the folded truck and elephant dies, if the line does not trip

in time, due to continued flow of electricity through the body. When the elephant receives

electric shock it gives out huge cry of distress which brings rest of the elephants of the

herd and then they try to rescue the elephant but before they could do anything more

they trample the live wire on the ground and receive further shock and they fall on the

live wire leading to continuous passing of electricity through their body resulting in

further deaths. All this process of death due to electrocution of elephant may take quite

some time as the animal is large in size.

27

2.B. Elephant Death Reports-

This portion is covered in two parts, 1- the places where the committee members visited

and 2-details generated from the reports of the forest department. The Energy Department

didn’t provide their departmental inquiry reports.

2B (i) Cases where committee visited-

Case-1

Death of 3 elephants due to electrocution on 31-7-2010 at Durllavapur village under

Telkoi Block,

It has been reported that 3 electrocution deaths occurred around 10.00 pm on 31-7-2010

under Durllavapur village which is around 4-5 kms away from Telkoi, near the Kaliahata

road.

This accident place within the village of limit of Dullavapur village, was located near

Nigamananda math, which was around 100 meter away from it, was on a paddy field on

plane land, just adjacent to a cashew plantation on the other side. Around the area we

could see trees of Sal, Kendu, Mahua etc. also apart from the Cashew plantation. During

the time of visit it was seen that cashew trees were almost touching the bare conductor.

According to the Range Officer present during the time of visit, the two phase line

ground clearance had been raised by interposing one additional pole between the tap-off

point and the transformer in the ashram premises after the accident. The matha area was

fenced with barbed wire fencing, was around 100 to 150 ft. away form the cashew

plantation area. Towards the north of the accident place one very small hillock, appeared

like an earthen mound, existed and the cashew plantation extended up to foot hills of that

small mound. Towards the southern side a grass land existed which extended up to the

Durllahbpur - Balasore village road, around 200 feet away. Beyond the road the paddy

28

cultivation fields, another cashew plantation continued, over which the transmission line

of Power Grid Corporation was running from east to west.

The elephants were buried near the accident site.

As per the gathered information, the accident occurred on 31.7.10 at night time, the

elephants came in contact with the two phase 11 KV line conductors feeding 10 KVA

transformer in the ashram premises. The two phase line was a tap –off from the three

phase 11 KV line to Banabiharipur which in turn was tapped-off from the 11 KV Telkoi-

Kaliahata feeder. At the time of the accident the ground clearance of the 11 KV

conductor was about 10 feet. First, the tusker elephant died due to electrocution by

touching and pulling one of the two conductors by its trunk. The other two female died

coming in contact with the live broken conductor.

Besides the accident spot the Committee visited the six pole structure at Telkoi town

where from the Telkoi-Kaliahata 11 KV feeder originates. From this 11 KV line the

Banabiharipur feeder was tapped off at Durllavpur and from Banabiharipur feeder the

two phase line to the ashram was taken without any pole in between tap-off pole and the

transformer. The transformer having been mounted on a single pole at very less height,

the two phase 11 KV conductors were dangling low at 10 feet height.

The team also visited the 33 KV/ 11 KV Bansapal substation from which the 11 KV

feeder to Telkoi emerged. At no point of this Bansapal-Telkoi-Kaliahata -Banabiharipur

circuit any circuit breaker to clear the fault was seen. The circuit breaker provided at

Bansapal has become defunct long since and it was found kept aside after being

disconnected from the feeder line.

The substations at Banspal and Telkoi were found with bare 11 KV live conductor

exposed at reachable heights and the substations had no fencing or boundary wall to

prevent men or animals straying into it. The Telkoi substation was located adjacent to

some houses, on the opposite side the black topped road and a semi constructed

29

Jagannath temple existed. Unless adequate protection is taken fatal accident can happen

at any time. The safety mechanism in the system was totally inadequate.

The records at above places and also Telkoi substation were verified and it was found

that the death of elephants, time of electrocution, time of disconnecting the line after

receiving intimation from forest officials for conducting postmortem etc. were not

recorded. The cause of such disconnection, the findings etc. were also not recorded by

any officials of the electricity department, which shows the indifference of the concerned

distribution agency.

Earlier Inspection:

Earlier a joint inspection involving different officers of the State were conducted

involving Sri B. B. Mohanty, Addl. Secretary to Govt. of Orissa, Energy Department, Sri

Bhagabat Maji, OAS (S), ADM, Keonjhar, Sri Sarat Kumar Mohanty, IFS, DFO,

Keonjhar Division, Sri Nirmal Kumar Das, SE, NESCO, Keonjhar, Sri SN Mishra, EIC

(Electricity)-cum-PCEI, Bhubaneswar the details is are follows.

Description of site:

1. Place of occurrence Durllavapur

2. Date of occurrence 31-07-2010 at 10 pm

3. Number of elephants

electrocuted

Tusker:1

Size: Height-7’ 5”, Length-9’ 8”, Tail-4’ 0’’, Trunk- 4’ 0’’

Female:2

1.Size:Height-7’ 9”,Length-9’ 4”, Tail-3’ 6”,Trunk-4’10”

2.Size: Height-6’ 5”, Length-8’ 4”, Tail-3’ 3”, Trunk-3’

4. Tusk 1 pair

Size: 1’10” x 9” & 1’ 10” x 9.3”

5. GPS reading 1. N-210-18’-07.4”, E-850-24’-34”

2. N-210-18’-07.2”, E-850-24’-34.1”

3. N-210-18’-07.1”, E-850-24’-34.1”

30

In the joint inspection report it has been mentioned that at Telkoi there was a six poles

structure and from that structure one 11 KV feeder had been drawn to Kaliahata and there

was a tapping point from Kaliahata feeder to village Banabiharipur. From this

Banabiharipur three phase 11KV feeder there was a two phase 11KV power supply to the

Nigamananda Ashram in village Durllavpur. From the tapping point in Banabiharipur

feeder to the Ashram there was only one span and from the tapping to the 10 KVA

substation in the compound of the Ashram, the distance was around 180ft approximately.

There was one single pole mounted to 10KVA 2 phase transformer exclusively for the

Ashram.

During the time of their visit they found only one conductor and the other conductor was

seized by Range Officer Telkoi earlier. The height of the conductor from the ground

level was measured in the presence of the enquiry committee members, and the ground

clearance form the lowest point of the conductor was 12 ft 9 inch.

Also the committee members found that there was no total disruption of power supply till

next morning in spite of major accident causing death of 3 elephants. The nearest fuse

control at Telkoi did not trip nor was the fuse control system at 11KV feeder at Banspal

33/11 KV substation (source) tripped. There was no breaker for 11KV Telkoi feeder

which originated from Banspal 33/11KV.

They also noticed that PHC pole and metal parts (cross arms) have not been earthed. No

barbed wire covering of the PHC pole was made.

The minimum distance of 2.6 mtrs. along the line between the tapping point through a

distance of approximately 40 ft was not maintained.

The DFO earlier in his inspection found one tusker died due to electrocution and during

the time of inspection the wire was found to be inside the trunk and part of the trunk was

burnt. The other two female elephants were lying above the said electric wire on the

ground. The conductor was broken in between male and female. The forest officials

31

found, during the inspection, that minimum height of the conductor form the ground was

10 ft.

Case-2

Electrocution death of a male tusker occurred in village Rajmohanpur in Hindol

subdivision of Dhenkanal Forest Division and district at around 11.00pm on 4th

September, 2010

Sri Gaan and Sri Jha both members of the Committee reached the accident spot and

observed that the death of the tusker elephant about 25-30 years old had taken place on

4th September, 2010 night due to coming in contract with the 11 KV electrical line

conductor at a point on the trunk where the scar mark due to current burn was clearly

visible.

Examination of the Electrical supply system causing death of the elephant revealed that it

was a two-Phase 11 KV line tapped off from the three Phase line at Rajmohanpur to feed

domestic consumers at the village Charanpur. At load end two 16 KVA single phase

transformers were reported to have been installed stepping down 11 KV to 230 volts and

supplying about 5 to 6 KW domestic consumer load of the villagers. The 2 phase tap –

off emerged from the 3 phase line at a pole through 10 Ampere fuse wires. One of the

fuse wires got blown due to the electrocution as told by one electrical department

employee. In that case the current flow should have been more that 10 ampere for quite a

long duration to make the fuse blow. However there was no tripping of the three phase 11

KV line from the nearby feeding substation as told by the substation duty personnel.

The two phase line causing electrocution was or passing in the close proximity of mango

trees and other plantations in the private land without having the required clearance of 2.6

mtrs from the trees. The ground clearance was about 10 feet at the time of electrocution.

It was seen during the visit of the full committee on 8th September, 2010 that the

location of the accident place was around 2 kilometer away form the Koi Reserve Forest.

32

The accident place at Rajamohanpur falls under Hindol forest range under Dhenkanal

Forest Division, was located on a private Arhar cultivation field, the land was almost flat

land with light slope. At the accident point a hybrid mango tree of around 20 feet was

standing which was just adjacent to a conductor strung between two cement- concrete

poles, the distance between the poles was around 300 feet. The other conductor was

broken after the accident and was under the custody of Range Officer, Hindol. It was

informed by the Range Officer that there was sagging, at the accident site the conductor

was 10 feet away from the ground. On 7/09/10, after the accident, the conductor height

was raised to around 15 feet by the electricity department.

The Koi RF was around 2 Km away towards south direction, and another hillock full of

trees was also located towards north, around 3-4 kilometer away. Hybrid mango trees

were planted along side the conductor, few trees were planted just below it, one tree was

badly damaged due to accident, and the mango trees at the exact place of accident was

damaged too. Around the accident place Bamboo bushes were found in good numbers

towards the south direction, alongside a water flowing nallah. Beyond the bamboo bushes

in the southern direction, a pond with reasonable volume of water existed, and cultivation

fields too existed adjacent to the pond. In the bunds of the cultivation fields a good

number of trees, mostly palm trees were found. Except for the cultivation fields where

paddy cultivation was going on, the tree coverage of the entire area was reasonably good.

During discussion with the local villagers and officer of the State Government at site, it

was transpired that on 8th September, 2010 23 numbers of elephants came near to the

village, they were driven to the forest in that night by the forest staffs. Two male

elephants strayed, came near the house of Pitambar Sahu, where the residents lighted fire

to scare the elephants. The elephants returned through the arhar cultivation fields, the

trunk of one elephant touched the sagging conductor of 11 KV transmission line, and the

elephant fell on the ground. The place where people lighted fire to drive away the

elephants was around 200 feet away from the accident place, located at the back of few

kuchha houses and a cemented house too. Around that fire area a bel tree, custard apple

tree, few banana plants, few bamboo plants etc. were standing. The backyard of the

33

houses, which was just adjacent to the cultivation field, had been used as a kitchen garden

where the residents had planted cucumber, lady’s finger etc.

Here also the date and time of death and reasons for disconnecting line after electrocution

death of elephant etc were not recorded in the books of records maintained at various

electric substations etc. This shows their casualness in which they are handling the cases

of death of elephants.

Case-3

Electrocution death of Panasa-Taila about 30 km from Angul town in village of

Pana on 23.8.10

Technical members of the committee Sri P. Gaan and Sri A. Jha visited Angul on 21.9.10

to enquire into the elephant electrocution death which took place at Panasa-Taila about

30 km from Angul town in village of Para on 23.8.10.

On reaching the accident spot accompanied by ACF Angul, concerned Electrical SDO

and J.E. it was seen that the 11 KV electrical transmission line form Jarapada 33 KV /11

KV Substation to Tikarapada passes in the vicinity of the accident spot. The line was

sagging near the spot as the poles at both ends of the span were quite apart. As per the

SDO (E) the ground clearance (min) was about thirteen plus feet, however at the time of

visit it was noticed that the ground clearance had already been raised by interposing an

additional pole at mid-span.

The cause of electrocution at the spot was reported to be due to willful electric trap

spread by persons from nearby village to poach animals like deer, wild boar, hare etc. for

food. The death trap for these animals was cleverly contrived as follows.

Ten to twelve dry wooden spikes were driven into soil leaving about one foot height on

soil top in a line. A metallic wire had been stretched from one end to the other to rest on

the wooden spikes serving as insulators. Another metallic wire had been connected to this

34

stretched wire supported on spikes at one end, the other end being tied to stone of around

one kg weight. This end tied to stone was thrown over the 11 KV line in order to hook 11

KV supply to charge the stretched metallic wire spread over the insulated spikes. Thus

the death trap for the animals was devised and commissioned. Animals passing by the

path on the Taila land come in contact with the charged wire and the current flow through

their bodies to earth causes electrocution. The trap is installed sometime in late evening

hours and the hapless animals coming in contact with the electrically charged trap and

suffering electrocution death are collected by the trap-layers in early morning by

disengaging the connecting wire of 11 KV line by help of some dry wooden stick or

bamboo. This was seen to be quite an ingenious way of utilising the 11 KV line for

poaching of animals by the villagers. It was given to understand that the poachers had

been identified and put behind bars. It was also informed that they were habitual

offenders. The tusker elephant passing over the trap had touched the charged wire by its

trunk.

On visiting the substation at Jarapada it was seen that the live conductor was fuse

protected, the fuse rating being 20 A. There was a group protection circuit breaker,

Megawin make at the secondary side of a 3.15 MVA transformer which feeds three 11

KV lines including the Jarapada-Tikarapada line from which 11 KV supply had been

illegally tapped by hooking. IDMT over current and earth fault relays were provided in

association with the circuit breaker without any instantaneous units. The over current and

earth fault settings were 150 A and 20 A respectively. It was also understood that no

tripping of the line had taken place during the accident night. Proper logging of events

was not done at the substation as it was learnt. The circuit breaker for 33 KV in commer

and an auto re-closing breaker were found defunct and kept out of circuit since long. So

on the whole, the protection system was found inadequate and in bad shape to isolate

fault speedily in case of requirement. The concerned engineers also had very poor

knowledge about circuit protection, it was observed.

35

2B.(ii)Forest Department Reports of recent elephant electrocution deaths:

Case-1:

Electrocution death at Badadeuli RF under Karanjia Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Open field Near Badadeuli RF

Forest Range &

Division

Karanjia Range, Karanjia division

Nearby Forest

Area

Badadeuli RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

75 meters

Description of

the Area

Green field

GPS Readings N-210-46’-8.9”

E-850-55’-8.3”

Date of

Occurrence

25-08-09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

1 male elephant died due to electrocution

Elephant Details Tusker:1

Size: Height-265 cm, Length-290 cm Trunk- 183

cm

1. Tusk length 102 cm, girth: 27 cm,

2. Tusk length 102 cm, girth: 25 cm,

The age of the elephant is accessed to be within

30-40 years

In what shape

elephant was

found

Burning sores in trunk of dead elephant

(Two burn wounds of 4-6” sizes )

Transmission 3 phase electric supply from 11 kv transmission line, height of the line is 12

36

line Details ft

Accident

Report

The incident has reported to have occurred at 11 pm to 12 pm on 25-8-09 as

ascertained from the nearby villagers who heard the noise of the sort

circuiting of electric transformer and the fearful trumpet of the electric

shocked elephant.

Further

Comments

An electric wire of 11 kv current was attached with its teeth and the elephant

was fallen laterally

Case-2:

Electrocution death at Kantabani village under Ghumsar (S) Division on 12-12-08

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Village: Kantabani, paddy field near Khandal

Goddess.

Forest Range &

Division

In Buguda Range, Ghumsar (S)

Nearby Forest

Area

Kriamba Reserve forest

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

1Km

Description of

the Area

Crop field

GPS Readings N 190 52’ 49.7 “

E 840 54’ 11.3 “

Date of

Occurrence

12.12.08.

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

1 male tusker elephant died due to electrocution

Elephant Details Size: shoulder height: 8’,

Length (head to tail)-7’ 2”

37

In what shape

elephant was

found

The disrupted transmission line (electric line) in

broken condition found near. The proboscis of the

dead elephant was charred.

Transmission

line Details

Accident occurred in 11 KV transmission line. One positive wire was

running on the top of the pole was in a sagging condition, was only 10’

height from the ground level ( as per the statement of local villagers).

Accident

Report

Over the plot of Sri Prakash Patra, S/o Harihar of village Jhadapada, the 11

KV the high tension transmission was passing. One positive wire running on

the top of the pole was in a sagging condition, was only 10’ height from the

ground level ( as per the statement of local villagers). During passing, the 8’

tall tusker raised probosus and came in contact with the 11 kv live wire and

it received serious shock, Out of anger the tusker might have caught the live

wire strongly which causes instant death and due to its own body weight the

sagged transmission wire lost its tension and was broken and was found

lying on both side of the dead elephant, on the ground. After the death of the

tusker the balance members of the herd left the accident place.

Further

Comments

This is case of another accident due to sagging.

Case-3:

Electrocution death in Dalkisole weekly market in Dukura (T) Range of Baripada

Division.

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Near Dalkisole weekly market in Dukura Range

Forest Range &

Division

Dukura Range, Baripada Forest Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Similpal RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

4.5 Km

Description of

the Area

Agricultural field near Dalkisole weekly market.

38

GPS Readings N 210 51’ 00”

E 860 38’ 18.4”

Date of

Occurrence

30.12.08

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

1 male tusker elephant died due to electrocution

Elephant Details Height-7’,

Length-(trunk to tail tip) 16’ 8”

Tusk length (left) 29”, bottom girth: 9”

Tusk length (right) 24”, bottom girth: 8"

In what shape

elephant was

found

The dead body was found lying on agricultural

field near Dalkisole weekly market.

Transmission

line Details

11 KV, the line height was 9ft from ground level

Accident

Report

The carcass was found in the agricultural field near Dalkisole weekly

market. The 11 KV low tension electric wire fall on the ground.

Further

Comments

This accident occurred due to heavy sagging; the conductor was at unsafe

height.

Case-4(I):

Electrocution death in Bamra (WL) range of Bamra (WL) Division.

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Near village Sajabahal in Tangarmunda

Sankobahal forest block DPF under Bamra

wildlife Range

Forest Range &

Division

Bamra (WL) Range of Bamra (WL) Division.

Nearby Forest

Area

------------

39

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

--------------

Description of

the Area

It is situated within Tangarmunda-Sankobahal

DPF and near village Sajabahal and near the

boundary pillar NO.37 hardly 200 mtrs away from

Tangarmunda-Sankobahal Panchayat road. As

per the information the supply wire is sagged

hardly 2.4 meters away from ground level. The

trunk was seriously injured and blood strain also

found.

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

15-10-08

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

1 tusker elephant died due to electrocution

Elephant Details Size: Height-330 cm,

Length (forehead to tail)-382 cm

Trunk- 150 cm

Tusk length (L) 75 cm, girth (middle): 19.6 cm,

Tusk length (R) 74.5 cm, girth (middle):18.4 cm,

In what shape

elephant was

found

At the spot it is found that one tusker lying dead

under 11 kv line. Top portion of the trunk was

badly damaged.

Transmission

line Details

11 kv transmission line which was 2.4 meters from ground.

Accident

Report

--

Further

Comments

The accident occurred due to low height of the transmission line.

40

Case-4(II):

Electrocution death in Bamra (WL) range of Bamra (WL) Division.

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Death of 2 elephants near Patrapali village in

Gochar land in Bamra wildlife range.

Forest Range &

Division

Bamra (WL) Range of Bamra (WL) Division.

Nearby Forest

Area

Badrama RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

200 mtr

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

1-05-08

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

Female elephant and a juvenile died.

Elephant Details Female:

Size: Height-260 cm,

Male juvenile

Size: Height-195 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

The dead bodies were lying under the sagged high

voltage electric line, only 7’ height from the

ground level. The trunk of the female elephant

was burnt completely lying, detached from its

body of 1’ length from nostril.

Transmission 11 KV electric line which was only 2.1m from the ground level.

41

line Details

Accident

Report

--

Further

Comments

The accident occurred due to sagging of transmission line. In this case the

burning of the trunk implies current passed for a quite long time, showing

failure of the tripping system.

Case-5(I):

Electrocution death in Champua Range Keonjhar Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Crop field near the Merameda Nala

Forest Range &

Division

Champua Range under Keonjhar Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Joyotipur RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

200 mtr

Description of

the Area

Crop field

GPS Readings N 210 53’ 11”

E 850 44’ 203”

Date of

Occurrence

7.10.09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One Tusker , aged about 45 years.

Elephant Details Medium built

Size: Length-(trunk to tail tip) 2.26 mtrs

Tusk length (left) 94, mid girth 28 cm

Tusk length (right) 93.5 cm, mid girth: 28 cm.

In what shape The tusker came in contact with the sagged 11 kv

42

elephant was

found

line and the elephant got charged with electricity

and died on the spot.

Transmission

line Details

The height of the sagged wire was measured to be 3.35 meter from the

ground and the distance between two poles was 120 meters. The

transmission line is a part of Jyotipur KV feeder from Bhuinpur to Bardhana.

The distance between two poles is more than the required specification for

which the wire is sagged in the middle and for that the death of the elephant

occurred by electrocution.

Accident

Report

Electrocution due to Sagging of the conductor Lacerated electric burn

injuries were noticed in the following parts of the body.

Injuries Length Width Depth

Near the left tusk 10 cm 1 cm ½ cm

Downside the trunk 12 cm ½ cm ½ cm

On the upper side of the

trunk

46 cm 19 cm ½ cm

Fore left leg 8 cm 2 cm ½ cm

Further

Comments

Sagging was the result of long distance between the poles.

Case-5(II):

Electrocution death in Champua Range under Keonjhar Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location In Hatidari village about 100 mtrs away from

Katalposi to Malda road in Champua Range

Forest Range &

Division

Champua Range Keonjhar Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Hatidari Kheshra Forest

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

Very close to Hatidari Khesra Forest

Description of

the Area

The accident place was located in Hatidari village,

in the cultivated land of Sri Dabara Laguri, of

43

village Hatidari, about 100 mtrs away from the

Katalpasi to Malda road after Kankadajodi ghat,

before Hatidari chowk.

GPS Readings N 210 52’ 30”

E 850 30’ 45”

Date of

Occurrence

21.09.08

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One female elephant died.

Elephant Details Size: Length-(trunk to tail tip) 3.33 mtrs

In what shape

elephant was

found

Lacerated electrical burn injury was noticed in the

left hind leg 6”X4”.

Transmission

line Details

The 33 kv transmission line, the ground clearance was 15 ft from ground

level.

Accident

Report

Some people conspired to kill wild elephants for tusks and laid trap by

putting un-insulated GI wire over a stretch of 100 mtrs. One end of the GI

wire was connected to electric power supply from the transmission line

passing through the spot. The female elephant came in contact with the live

wire and got killed due to electrocution on the night of 21-09-2008. Latter

they hide the carcass by burying but the case was detected.

Further

Comments

Electrocution by using 100 mtr GI wire connect to the transmission line. It a

case of killing, not accident.

Case-6:

Electrocution death in Purunakote Wildlife Range Satkosia WL Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Purunakote Compartment No.10 Reserve forest

44

in Purunakote Wildlife Range

Forest Range &

Division

Purunakote range Satkosia WL Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Purunakote RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

Inside Purunakote RF

Description of

the Area

A tusker was found dead by the Range Officer in

Purunakote Compartment No.10 Reserve forest.

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

25.6.09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One Tusker

Elephant Details Age -15 years, height : 225 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

In reply to the show cause notice, the CESU

authorities stated that he male elephant died due

to electrocution in Purunakote RF, and the above

line was maintained with a clearance of 14’/15’.

But due to heavy rain and wind on 24-6-09

evening three numbers of big trees fell down on

the above line for which the cut point stay was

uprooted with tilting of the cut point pole. This

was resulted sagging of the above line which was

not known to their staff stationed at Jagannathpur

about 22 kms away from the accident spot till 27-

7-09.

Transmission

line Details

The 11KV transmission line was about 14’/15’.

Accident

Report

A tusker was found dead by the Range Officer in Purunakote

Compartment No.10 Reserve forest 27.6.09 about 1ft under the 11 Kv

45

electric wire.

Further

Comments

Death may be due to Electrocution resulting ventricular fibrillation & heart

failure.

Case-7(I):

Electrocution death in Talcher Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Gandaberena KF

Forest Range &

Division

Talcher Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Rabipur RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

2 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

19-6-08

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One Female elephant died.

Elephant Details Age -15 years, height : 242 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

The body was laying laterally, decomposed and

got putrefied.

Transmission

line Details

33 kv

Accident

Report

While it was raining the elephant was passing between two sal tree (poles)

when the tree touched the 33 kv line passing nearby. The elephant got

electrocuted in between the trees. The carcass was laying adhere to a half

burnt sal tree which was near to 33 kv line.

Further The death occurred not maintaining adequate clearance between the

46

Comments conductors and the trees coming on the way.

Case-7(II):

Electrocution death in Chhendipada Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Brahanbil village

Forest Range &

Division

Chhendipada Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Jaltap RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

2 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

9-8-2008

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One Male

Elephant Details Age -14 years, height : 1.24 mtr.

In what shape

elephant was

found

The carcass was laying on a wet field near a 11

KV electric line.

Transmission

line Details

11 kv

Accident

Report

The place where the elephant had died two adjacent pole had badly sagged

below 4.2 mtr. Same had happened due to sudden and heavy rain in the

previous day and the SESU authority could not detect the case and the

elephant got electrocuted.

47

Further

Comments --

Case-7(III):

Electrocution death in Kaniha Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Bariharpur village

Forest Range &

Division

Kaniha Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Badakathia RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

2 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

14-08-09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One male and

One Female

Elephant Details Male: Age -15 years, height : 265 cm

Female: Age -12 years, height : 215 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

Mark of sign of burning on the skin of the trunk in

the form about 5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.

Transmission

line Details

11 kv

Accident Death due to electrocution as the live wire cut off from the 11 kv

48

Report transmission line. The live 11 KV transmission line had been cut off

during the lighting as the porcelain cup of a adjacent pole broken down

due to lighting.

Further

Comments

--

Case-7(IV):

Electrocution death in Talcher Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Burukuna KF near Kulapal village

Forest Range &

Division

Talcher Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Bulajhar RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

--

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

17-10-09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One female

Elephant Details Female: Age -15 years, height : 236 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

Electric burning mark in the body. The carcass

was laying on sitting manner adjacent to paddy

field and jungle.

49

Transmission

line Details

11 kv (it was located 2 km away from the spot) height below 5 mtr

Accident

Report

The elephant died due to electrocution in illegal hooking by the offender

Binod Sal in Talcher Range.

Further

Comments Illegal hooking from transmission line resulted in the death of the

elephant.

Case-7(V):

Electrocution death in Talcher Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Arakhapal village forest

Forest Range &

Division

Talcher Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Kanteikolia RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

1 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

26-10-09

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One female

Elephant Details Female: Age -20 years, height : 219 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

The carcass was lying below the 11 kv line with

one wire hanging from the pole and touched the

elephant in between its two hind legs.

50

Transmission

line Details

11 kv

Accident

Report

The live wire was cut off due to some reason and fell on the ground. The

ill fated elephant got electrocuted while crossing the spot.

Further

Comments

The tripping system was not working which resulted in the death of the

elephant.

Case-7(VI):

Electrocution death in Durgapur Range Angul Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Para village (private land)

Forest Range &

Division

Durgapur Range and Angul Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Antulia-Tabada RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

1 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

22-8-10

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One male

Elephant Details Female: Age -10 years, height : 210 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

The elephant found dead with laying on its left

side at Panash Tada, Para and body was swelled.

51

Transmission

line Details

11 kv

Accident

Report

The elephant died due to electrocution in illegal hooking.

Further

Comments

Case-8:

Electrocution death in Athagarh Range Athagarh Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Champapur village owner of plot Arjun Rout

Forest Range &

Division

Athagarh Range and Athagarh Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Oringa RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

2 KM

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

February, 2009

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

One male

Elephant Details Age -30 years, height : 230 cm

In what shape

elephant was

found

--

52

Transmission

line Details

--

Accident

Report

The elephant died due to electrocution by tracking the jumper hooked from

240 volt electric line. As per the postmortem report the death may be due

to shock and cardiac failure.

Further

Comments

Case-9:

Electrocution death in Gudari Range Rayagada Division

Place of

Occurrence-

Exact Location Sardhapur RF near pillar No.72 near Goibandha

and Sourapandraguda village

Forest Range &

Division

Gudari Range Rayagada Division

Nearby Forest

Area

Sardhapur RF

Approximate

Distance from

Forest

Inside the RF

Description of

the Area

--

GPS Readings --

Date of

Occurrence

25-04-2009

Elephant

Casualty

Details

No. of Elephant

deaths

Two female

Elephant Details Age -15 years, height : 7’ 1”

Age -17 years, height : 7’ 4”

53

In what shape

elephant was

found

--

Transmission

line Details

--

Accident

Report

The death was due to electrocution. The height of the 11 kv transmission

line was 10-12’ from the ground level.

The above cases indicate non-operation of the protective devices, when the hazadous

parts of the electrical distribution system came in contact with animal and in one case the

sal tree.

******

Death of three elephants in village Durllavpur under Telkoi block, under

Keonjhar forest division on 31.07.2010.

54

SECTION-3

Some Administrative Developments/ Initiatives in State of

Orissa on Elephant Electrocution Deaths

Many meetings were held in the State of Orissa to bring out an effective mechanism/

enforcing the guidelines to avoid future elephant electrocution deaths; the details of some

of important meetings are given below.

3A. Meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, Govt. of Orissa Date 05-01-10

Some of the important deliberations are given below:

1) Electrocution death of elephants should be one of the agenda item for discussion in

the district level meeting.

2) The DFO would deploy the elephant squads, elephant trackers, elephant inspectors to

keep a track of the elephants and the DFO will report the sagging of the electrical

lines to different authorities.

3) Non-adherence of the permissible maximum distance from pole to pole has resulted

in the sagging of transmission lines. This has been due to inadequate funds for the

purpose. The guidelines communicated that statutory provisions of Indian Electricity

Rules, 1956, REC, Construction Standards and Guidelines provided by the Central

Electricity Authority should be followed without fail.

4) Attention was drawn on the letter No. CEI-I/28-2002, dated 15-03-2002 and 08-06-

2002 of Govt. of India Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi as well as letter dated

27.3.2002 of Government of India, Ministry of Power, New Delhi relating to such

guidelines for proper maintenance of electrical transmission lines to save life and

property. The essential points to be implemented in this regard are as under:-

i. Suitable guard spikes should be provided on 400V, 11KV, 33KV poles at 4 ft to 7ft

height to prevent rubbing by animals.

ii. All electrical transmission lines should be regularly inspected to ensure mandatory

ground clearance as per Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

55

iii. Conductor clearance from trees should invariably be maintained which should not

be less than 2.6 meter for 11KV and 2.8 meters for 33 KV lines.

iv. Every tripping of electricity line/sub-station should be enquired by the concerned

officials.

v. Regular joint inspection of transmission lines by officers of Electricity and Forest

Department should be undertaken at least twice a year, once before monsoon and

once after monsoon.

vi. The width of right of way of 15 meter for 33KV lines and 7 meter for 11 KV line

should invariably be maintained.

3.B. Many suggestions have been aired at different coordination meetings, some of

the important suggestions are given below:

a. Minimum ground clearance as per Indian Electricity Rules should be 5.2 mtrs in

case of 33 KV line and 4.6 mtrs in other cases (415 V and 11 KV). Further,

clearance between the conductors and the trees shall not be less than 2.6 mtr for

11 KV line and 2.8 mtr for 33 KV line; the sag and swing of the conductors are to

be kept in view while working out to this minimum clearance.

b. The electric poles may be embedded with concrete, at least along the identified

elephant corridors to rule out unexpected sagging because of tilting of poles,

particularly during/after rains. The possibility of underground transmission line

or at least insulated piping of transmission lies in such areas may be explored and

experimented with.

3C. Observation/ Directions by State Electricity Department:

3C. (i) View of Chief Electrical Inspector (T&D) Govt. of Orissa:-

Some views of Chief Electrical Inspector show lack of coordination between Govt. and

Electricity Distribution Companies and apathy of distribution companies which was

communicated to the Govt. of Orissa vide his letter No. 2311 dated 22-9-2010, which

also shows his deep concern.

56

1. In accordance to IE Rules and R.E.C. guidelines, distribution companies

construct and maintain 33 kv/11kv lines and substations as well as LT lines.

The newly constructed lines there after get inspected by the Chief Electrical

Inspector to check the safety standards. It is a matter of deep concern that the

newly constructed lines and substations are not offered for inspection. Also

the old lines and substations are not offered for inspections.

2. Normal transmission voltage are of 33KV/11KV and 440 Volts 3 phase 4 wire

transmission and distribution system throughout the state. (HT) Transmission

feeders are required to be protected through VCB/MCB, and LT lines are to

be controlled by the HG Fuse/ cut out with appropriate capacity, substations

are also controlled by HG Fuse. But the DISCOMs are not addressing to it.

3. Periodical testing of equipments and installations are being undertaken by

meter testing and EMR staff of DISTCOM. Inspection towards the same are

not being offered by DISTCOMs for old installations as well as for new

installations. As a result safety standards could not be checked.

4. Safety precautionary measures were being indicated in the inspection report

and follow up action/compliances to the same are never reported.

3C. (ii) View of Addl. Secretary, Govt. of Orissa, Deptt. Of Energy:-

The Addl. Secretary, vide his letter No.8829 dated 4th October, 2010 informed about

provision and practices relating to inspection, testing, etc.

Some of the important points extracted from his letter are mentioned below:

Point No.6 :- Provisions and practices relating to inspection and testing:-

Under the IE Rules, the electrical installations are required to be periodically inspected.

For each inspection the owner of the installations/assets has to deposit the inspection fee

in advance so as to take up the inspection. The Distribution Utilities are not depositing

the inspection fees for inspection of their systems/installations and have challenged the

57

same in the Court of Law. As regards testing of devices, the same is mandatory and

testing is being done before installation and commissioning.

Point No.9:- Safety study:

Under Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 the Generating companies, Transmission and

Distribution Utilities have to appoint Safety Officers. They have been instructed by the

Government to appoint Safety Officers in their organization immediately for proper

observance of safety measures in their organization in construction, operation and

maintenance of sub stations, transmission and distribution lines.

3C. (iii) Important Directions from Electricity Department, Govt. of

Orissa:-

(a) Commissioner –cum- Secretary, Govt. of Orissa, Energy Department letter

No.8120 dated 15th September, 2010 to all Collectors. speaks of following

directions

1. Identification of areas where elephant presents and movement has been

noticed by the DFO and the same to be informed to the distribution

companies.

2. The distribution companies will check the distribution lines (both HT and LT

lines) and verify the sag and swing of the conductors. Regular patrolling will

be done by them to ensure proper ground clearance. In the unsafe portions

more number of intervening poles will be erected to reduce sag and swing.

3. In the accident prone areas the distribution companies may workout length

and distance of the line where the bare conductors will be replaced by cables.

4. The HT and LT lines should have sufficient effective devices so that as and

when the accident takes place the power supply will immediately trip. The

fuse control device and breakers and such other protective devices should be

provided and this has also to be worked out.

58

(b) Commissioner –cum- Secretary, Govt. of Orissa, Energy Department letter

No.7117 dated 09-08-2010 to all Executive Engineers of the distribution

companies gives the following directions

1. Immediate checking all HT, LT and distribution lines which have sagged to

very low, thus have potentiality to cause electrical accidents. Action to be

taken for restringing of these lines and cables.

2. Unguarded transformers and distribution transformers need to be fenced with

barbed wire.

3. All poles should have spike arrangements. In elephant corridors those spikes

may not be sufficient to scare away the elephants, so spikes of proper size and

strength may be provided.

4. In all 11 KV feeders VCBs and appropriate relays need to be installed. The

capacity of HG fuse should match with capacity of transformers.

5. The Central Empower Committee (constituted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court

of India) in Writ Petition (Civil) 202/95 and 171/96 during brainstorming

session “Protection of Wildlife” held on March 20, 2004 in New Delhi

constituted a Committee to prepare a model project report on Rajaji National

Park. The guideline so framed has total relevance for installation and

maintenance of power distribution lines

3.D. Important Directions from Forest and Wildlife Department,

Government of Orissa:

(a) PCCF (WL) letter No. 6954 (2) dated 30th October, 2006 to the Chairman-

cum-Managing Director, Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd,

1. “Wildlife protection against electrocution Cell” should be set up covering a

district or a manageable area with members from Electricity Department,

Forest Department, NGO, Police Department, etc. This cell should be set up

by the local electricity authorities at District level as per Electricity authorities

of GOI circular referred to in the concerned communication.

59

2. Earth leakage circuit breakers should be installed in sensitive forest areas

where poaching by electrocution is prevalent.

3. Adequate patrolling should be carried out by SEB personnel in agricultural

areas that are adjacent to forests.

4. To monitor all tripping of 11KV lines on earth fault through a close liaison

with forest department.

5. To investigate each case of animals death and take preventive measures.

6. Also recommendations of Central Empower Committee were quoted.

(b) Addl. PCCF (WL) letter No.5581 dated 5-10-04 to all the Divisional Forest

Officers:-

Some important steps were suggested for minimizing deliberate electrocution cases.

1. Introduction and promotion of harmless energized fencings operated by solar

power or 12 volt batteries among farmers. Under ‘Janata Fencings’ scheme,

the farmers can join hands with Forest Department and set up electric fencing

around their agricultural fields.

2. The representative of Electricity Department should be included in

Stakeholders Advisory Committee of the ERs.

3. The State Electricity Board to be persuaded to invoke section 39 of the Indian

Electricity Act, 1910 for initiating criminal prosecution against the offenders

accused of deliberate electrocution.

3. E. Discussion on safe practices in power distribution:

An important discussion concerning the safe practices, was held on 02-05-2009 in which

representatives of CESU, NESCO, WESCO, SOUTHCO companies were present. The

salient points are given below:

The CEI ( T & D) informed that the CEA has not made safety rules yet under

Section 53 of the Act, so I. E. Rules, 1956 is still prevailing – Para 2.2 of the

record note and many accidents are occurring due to engagement of un-licensed

60

helpers. The neutral side of the S/S should be earth by two conductors instead of

present practice of using single conductor.

Since 2003-04, the DISTCOMs have not paid their annual inspection fees and are

not calling the Electrical Inspectorate for inspection. However, the officers of

CEI (T&D) have proactively inspected certain installations without prior deposit –

para 2.2.

The Electrical Inspectorate are allowing charging of the installations even after

showing that some deficiencies are still there and once the installation is charged

the deficiencies are forgotten- para 2.3.

In RGGVY and BGGJY works concreting of the poles are not done.

In the earlier OSEB days the linemen and helpers were not overburdened but the

work load is more now and the staffs are less. The Electrical Inspectorate has

allowed long span lines to be charged during OSEB days which is still

continuing- para 2.3.

In RGGVY works earthing is not provided and SOUTHCO has been raising this

issue time and again. There has been sluggishness in the protection system and

for placing neutral wire and earthing, so fund is required- para 2.5.

Due to urbanization and reduction is size of forest elephants are not taking usual

migratory paths and meeting accident in the line of sagged and long span

conditions. There are wrong selection of tower placing- para 2.7.

The CEI (T&D) should go for prosecution of licenses who do not carryout

inspection in their installations. The CEI (T&D) should issue a circular stating do

and don’ts on electrical safety.

******

61

Death of a tusker at Rajmohanpur under Hindol under Dhenkanal Division on4th September, 2010. In the top photo burnt mark on the trunk is visible.

62

SECTION- 4

Elephant Electrocution Death Analysis

4A. Analysis of Forest Department Enquiry Reports:

a. Low ground Clearance- Most of the deaths occurred due to sagging of electricity

lines which was mainly due to long span between the poles; electrocution deaths

occurred in Telkoi and later on the long line span was corrected at the accident

site by posting another pole between two existing poles, is the glaring example. In

that accident place the committee found the conductor height was adequate and

suitable ground clearance was maintained which was due to posting of additional

pole; it amply shows that there are many places where the line span is much more,

which need to be corrected immediately. However long span between the poles is

not the only reason of sagging, not maintaining appropriate tension of the

conductors is also another reasons as was seen in the Hindol accident case, where

earlier low ground clearance was rectified by giving right tension and stringing the

conductor once again, without posting additional pole.

b. Non tripping of line- On many cases the trunks of the elephants were burnt,

photograph of the dead elephant of Telkoi case, as collected from the DFO, Keonjar

gives clear indication of current flow for a sufficiently long period. In another

electrocution case under Bamra (WL) division during 2008, a part of the trunk of

the female elephant was burnt and was detached from the body, which implies that

current passed through the trunk for a considerable long period resulting in deep

burning & even detachment of the trunk. It shows that the tripping mechanism

didn’t work properly,.

c. Vulnerable Areas- In all electrocution deaths accidents occurred either inside

forests or mostly at places near to the forests which shows that the most vulnerable

areas are just outside the forest limits which needs immediate attention.

d. Intentional killing/ Hunting- In one case, a female elephant was killed by drawing

wire from 33 KV line with an intention to electrocute the animal under Champua

63

Range under Keonjhar division. In another case under Athgarh Range under

Athgarh division, one male elephant died due to coming in contact with live wire,

which was illegally drawn from 230 Volt line. In this case the animal must have

been entangled with the 230 volt conductor for a considerable time (may be several

minutes or more), otherwise the elephant shouldn’t have died as the current passing

through its body could be 15 mA.

e. Non trimming of trees- Many a times accident occurred due to non trimming/

pollarding of trees and branches, many a times branches touches the live conductor.

In one particular case under Talcher Range under Angul division during the year

2008, the female elephant died due to non trimming of trees in KF area. The

committee saw he branches of the mango tree touching the conductor in Hindol

case under Dhenkanal Division.

f. Improper Lightning Conductor for transmission Lines/ failure of tripping system- In

a case under Kaniha Range under Angul division, the live conductor was broken

after the lightning struck the pole and live wire fell on the ground. After the

lightning struck, the tripping mechanism should have worked, but strangely only the

conductor was broken, but the charge remained resulting in electrocution. In

another case of Talcher Range under Angul division, during the year 2009, the live

conductor was broken earlier; the line didn’t trip, so the accident happened which

again confirms the non-availability of protection devices.

4.B. Elephant Death Statistics:

The electricity department and forest department- wildlife wing were asked to provide

elephant electrocution death statistics for the current years; to understand the

electrocution death scenario in a better fashion, the elephant population dynamics too.

Accordingly both the departments provided elephant electrocution death statistics which

is enclosed at annexure –forest department and for energy department. The population

trends of the elephants are given at annexure. The state forest department provided the

64

elephant electrocution death statistics for the period from 2000-01 to 31.07.2010; and the

statistics from the energy department pertains to the period from 2004-05 to 2009-2010.

4.C. Elephant Electrocution Death Scenario:

(i) The information on elephant deaths was collected from the PCFF( WL) Orissa from

1990-91 onwards till July 2010, the reported causes of death are poaching, accident,

natural death, disease and in some cases reasons are not known too.

Grouping the death types, it is observed that for this period poaching and accidents take

the highest toll; natural death and disease are much less; the cause wise death is as

follows,

From 1990-91 onwards till July 2010

250

199182

118

78

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Poaching Accident Natural Disease Reason not known

(ii) Man-Animal Conflict Scenario-

The man-animal conflict interface, the details could be received from 2004-05 to 2009-10

which is given at table below.

Human

kill

Human

injury

Crop Damage

(acres)

House Damage

(No.)

Cattle kill

(No.)

2004-05 30 3 1726.003 499 11

2005-06 40 1 432.847 274 0

2006-07 71 16 4835.6 592 5

2007-08 62 16 9713.449 850 6

65

2008-09 46 13 8802.9 756 0

2009-10 69 26 10219 1066 7

Total 318 75 35729.8 4037 29

Average per year 53 12 5955 ac. 673 5

It shows that there is increasing man-animal conflict, the highest human casualties

occurred during the period 2006-07 (71) and next highest is during the period 2009-10

(69). The human death (69) and injury (26) during 2009-10 is a matter of concern. The

house damages during the period 2009-10 is the highest. It appears that man-elephant

conflict is increasing. The crop damage during the year 2009-10 is significantly less than

earlier years but human casualty, human injury and house damage are in the highest

bracket, the result shows that the elephants are turning more aggressive which results

both human and elephant casualties, also poses a greater risk for elephant safety.

Death of a tusker at Badadeuli under Karanjia Division due to electrocution

66

4.D. Analysis of Forest Department Views and Statistics:

Electrocution deaths: The division wise elephant electrocution deaths are available from

2000-01 till August-2010.

(a) Year wise Death scenario- The year wise death scenario is given below at graph-1.

From 2000-01 till July-2010

Looking at the above graph it is seen that the electrocution death rate is increasing

continuously from 2001 till 2004-05; in the year 2004-05 maximum 15 elephant

causalities took place. There is sudden fall on electrocution deaths during 2005-06, but

the death trend is showing increasing order since 2005-06, though periodic variations are

there.

Looking at the trend it appears that reduction in death number during the year 2005-06

might be due to,

Alertness on the part of Electricity/Forest Department.

The elephants become cautious, panicky too and they tend to avoid the

areas where electric lines passed or they avoided areas adjoining to

villages for some time.

67

It implies that the alertness of the Forest/Electric Department officials remained for a

short period and automatic inertia creeps in, the safety practices were not continued

longer. This underlines the need for infusing a right safety culture, that becomes visible

allover the organization and is shared by all. So the safety practices has to be codified

properly and regular review of the safety practices should be undertaken by the Forest

and Electricity Department jointly, the fact is that electricity department probably is not

giving due importance to the wild animal safety.

Death of three elephants in village Durllavpur under Telkoi block, under Keonjharforest division on 31.07.2010

68

(b) Division wise death scenario-

From 2000-01 till July-2010

6

1

1

3

1

2

1

4

2

3

1

1

2

24

3

3

4

3

1

11

1

3

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Angul

Athagarh

Athamalik

Bamra (W L)

Baripada

Berhampur

Bolangir

Bonai

Deogarh

Dhenkanal

Ghumsur (S)

Jeypore

Karanjia

Keonjhar

Parlakhemundi

Rairakhol

Rayagada

Rourke la

Sambalpur (S)

Sambalpur(N)

Satkosia W L

Sundargarh

Electrocution Deaths under Different Divisions

Also looking at the electrocution death scenario arena of the divisions, Keonjhar division

ranked notoriously at the top with highest casualties (24 numbers) followed by

Sambalpur (N) (11 casualties); the higher electrocution trend too is seen in the divisions

69

of Anugul (6), Bonai (4), and Rayagada ( 4). Looking at the period of accident, most of

the casualties in Sambalpur (N) division occur between 2000-01 to 2004-05. But in the

present years the casualties is increasing in Angul division where during 2008-09 and

2009-10, 2 and 4 numbers of elephants died due to electrocution. The Bamra WL

Division shows electrocution deaths only during 2008-09.

Year wise performance of divisions where high electrocution deaths occurred is given

below-

Keonjhar-

From 2000-01 till July-2010

Sambalpur North-

From 2000-01 till July-2010

70

(c) Distribution Company wise performance-

For the period from 2000- till date the distribution companies wise performance is given

below.

From 2000-01 till July-2010

27

11

32

11

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

NESCO SOUTHCO WESCO CESU/CESCO

The death scenario in the areas operated by NESCO and WESCO is alarming, WESCO

being the major culprit, followed by NESCO. The death scenario in SOUTHCO is not too

good either.

(d) Month wise Electrocution Deaths-

From 2000-01 till July-2010

71

Looking at the period wise death trend, though the death occurs almost in all months, but

the death trend is alarmingly high during the month of October, just after the rainy

season, and significantly low during March, at the initial months of the Summer and end

of the Spring. The electrocution rate takes upward trend from April till May, with a little

drop during June, suddenly rises during July, with monsoon fully active.

In the further Autumn, and Winter months i.e. between the months of November to

February, the death trend continues. The alarming months, apart from October are July,

August, December and January.

(e) Sex wise Electrocution Deaths-

In the electrocution deaths, male, female and calves are dying, though male is the

majority (60%). But looking at the whole elephant population, where the male and female

ratio is not 1:1, the causalities of males are a concern. The male causalities occur mainly

because the males are taller than the females, and they are adventurous too.

(f) Location of Accidents-

Most of the elephants electrocution deaths are occurring within the village limits, many

are in the paddy fields. In many incidences the deaths occur inside the forests including

Reserve Forests. Two elephants die near National Highways. The location wise

electrocution details are given below.

Location/

RF/PF

/Jungle/ Pvt/

Village 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Grand

Total

Khesra Forest 1 1 1 3

National

Highway 2 2

Near RF 2 2

Near

Sanctuary 3 3

72

Other 1 4 1 3 2 2 2 3 18

Private 1 2 3

Protected

Reserve

Forest 1 1 2

Reserve

Forest 1 1 2 3 7

Village 1 3 6 6 10 1 4 1 3 6 41

Grand Total 2 6 6 9 14 6 8 4 10 12 4 81

(g) Elephant Electrocution Death Voltages:-

Almost all elephant electrocution deaths occurred in 11KV line. However, instances are

there like one in Karanjia Division where elephant electrocution death occurred in 440

volt electricity line, even in 230 volt line in a case under Athgarh division.

(h) Causes of Elephant Electrocution Deaths:-

There are many cause, majority of the causes are due to accidental electrocution. The

other causes of electrocution are deliberate electrocution, poaching.

( i) Multiple Deaths

On different single days, multiple deaths occurred; the list of such deaths is given below.

Name of division Detection Date Total

Angul 14-Aug-09 2

Angul Total 2

Bamra WL 1-May-08 2

Bamra WL Total 1

Bonai 27-Oct-04 4

Bonai Total 4

Keonjhar 13-Jul-01 2

21-Oct-01 2

8-Oct-02 2

27-Sep-04 2

73

7-Dec-04 2

12-Oct-06 2

31-Jul-10 3

Keonjhar Total 15

Paralakhemundi 11-Jan-05 3

Paralakhemundi Total 3

Rairakhol 17-Oct-06 3

Rairakhol Total 3

Rayagada 22-Jan-03 2

26-Apr-09 2

Rayagada Total 4

Rourkela 9-Feb-04 3

Roukela Total 3

Sambalpur(S) 19-Jul-03 2

Sambalpur(S) Total 2

Grand Total 38

A significant percentage, around 45 % of all electrocution deaths, occurred on different

single nights/days, which shows that the protection systems failed completely, or the

protection systems were almost absent.

Angul5% Bamra WL

5%

Bonai11%

Keonjhar39%

Paralakhemundi8%

Rairakhol8%

Rayagada11%

Rourkela8%

Sambalpur(S)5%

74

Also looking at the above graph it is seen that maximum multiple deaths are occurring in

Keonjhar division, which implies that the immediate attention have to be given in this

district.

4E. Analysis of Electricity Department views Statistics:

The Orissa State Electricity Department provided information from 2004-05 to Sept-

2010, gist of the information is given in the graphical form. These figures are not

matching with figures given by the forest department. The officials of the electricity

department were asked to provide information on electrocution deaths as well as

corrected figures during the meeting with electricity distribution company officials,

also they were reminded, but they are yet to provide the details, so the present

analysis is done as per the earlier data available from the electricity department.

(a) Elephant Death causes-

The major causes of elephant electrocution are as follows.

From 2004-05 to Sept-2010

1

7

1

76

13

02468

101214

Series1

The above graph clearly shows lowering of the conductors due to the tilting of the poles;

brushing also generally results in tilting of the poles, is the major factor of electrocution

75

deaths. General low ground clearance is also another major factor, the forest department

in their report mentioned about low ground clearance mostly. Non coupling of poles, de-

attachment of conductors are other reasons of electrocution,

Out of these reasons quoted above, some definitely point to low level of maintenance,

like low ground clearance, non coupling of poles, de-attachment of conductors which

need immediate intervention. The tilting of the poles is quoted as the major reason of

death, which otherwise implies that the strengthening of the base of the poles had not

been done. Accidents are occurring due to brushing which implies that the safeguard

against brushing like putting barbered wire around/ wire nails embedded in the poles had

not been done.

(b) Year wise death

It is important to look at the year wise trend of death as per the figure available from the

electricity department. From 2004-05 to Sept-2010

4

6

1

9

7

8

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 0

2 0 0 4 -0 5 2 0 0 6 -0 7 2 0 0 7 -0 8 2 0 0 8 -0 9 2 0 0 9 -1 0 2 0 1 0 -1 1

Yea r W ise E lectro cu tio n D ea th

In their own admission, the electrocution deaths are increasing over the years, the trends

are very high for the period from 2008-09 onwards.

76

(c) Performance of Electricity Companies

From 2004-05 to Sept-2010

7

1 2

5

1 1

0

2

4

6

8

1 0

1 2

1 4

CESU NESCO SO UTHCO W ESCO

Se r ie s1

For the period of report, the deaths are occurring in all the distribution company

jurisdictions, NESCO and WESCO are performing poorly, CESU performance is also no

way better.

If we look at the figure of last three years from 2008-09 onwards at graph below, the

figures are rising for areas under CESU, the death scenario is bad for areas under

NESCO.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

CESU NESCO SO UTHCO W ESCO

2 0 0 8 -0 9

2 0 0 9 -1 0

2 0 1 0 -1 1

77

(d) District wise death scenario

Looking at district wise death scenario, under the control of different distribution

companies, the following trend emerges.

2004-05 to Sept-2010

Name of the

DISTCOM District

2004-

05

2006-

07

2007-

08

2008-

09

2009-

10

2010-

11

Grand

Total

CESU Angul 1 1 2 4

Dhenkanal 3 3

CESU Total 1 1 5 7

NESCO Balasore 1 1 2

Keonjhar 1 1 1 3 6

Sundargarh 4 4

NESCO Total 4 1 2 2 3 12

SOUTHCO Ganjam 1 1 1 3

Rayagada 2 2

SOUTHCO Total 1 1 3 5

WESCO Jharsuguda 4 4

Sambalpur 1 2 3

Sundargarh 3 1 4

WESCO Total 4 1 5 1 11

Grand Total 4 6 1 9 7 8 35

Most of the accidents are confined to 10 nos. of districts out of 30 districts of the state.

The above figure identifies the immediate attention areas in the districts of Keonjhar,

Anugul, Sundergarh, Ganjam, Rayagada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Sundergarh. Except

for Balasore and Ganjam, all the districts are interior districts. Earlier the division wise

vulnerability has been explained. So higher attention should be given in these districts for

tracking the movement of the elephants and ensuring that proper safety height of

transmission line is maintained.

Also it is worth noting that the division boundary and district boundaries don’t coincide

always, so there are little differences while comparing the deaths division wise.

******

78

SECTION-5

5A. Critical Observations on Management Systems & Practices-

A. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) during its brainstorming session on

protection of wildlife held on March 20, 2004 constituted a committee to prepare a model

project report on Rajaji National Park. Different files/guidelines were consulted

consolidated measures for protection of wildlife from power distribution lines of 33kv

and below were formulated. Some of the silent points are repeated along with fresh

suggestions.

(i) Use of Guard spikes/barbed wire fencing may be provided on/around transmission

line poles/towers to a suitable height from ground level to prevent animals rubbing their

body parts against them causing damage.

Comment:- It is seen that significant percentage of electrocution accidents are due to

brushing of the animal which resulted mostly in tilting of poles. So invariably, the guard

spikes with proper modification should be put on the poles with an aim to scare the

elephants from brushing themselves against the poles. In none of the places, the

committee members could find any guard spike/ barbered wire fencing around the poles.

All the new constructions in vulnerable divisions should invariably have guard spike/

barbered wire fencing. When the existing poles are replaced, the replacement poles

should invariably be with guard spike/ barbed wire fencing. Also in extremely vulnerable

areas, normal poles should be adequately provided with guard spikes/barbed wire

fencing.

In most of the meetings involving officials of the State Government, this aspect has come

to the limelight, specific directions have been issued, but developments in the field is not

noticeable.

79

(ii) Concreting the cement pillar base-

Since tilting of poles is a major reason of sagging of eclectic lines as confirmed from the

reports of the electricity department, the base of the poles should be strengthened. The

poles/towers should be embedded underground with firm concrete foundation and proper

coping and staying should be done so that it does not tilt or fall down under any

circumstances, the reason being many of the accidents occur during the monsoons and

many in paddy fields- the lands are slushy and marshy at that time, so the underground

concreting of pillars will strengthen the pillars. Since all most all the electrocution

accidents are occurring in the interior districts/ places away from coastline the wind

speed is much less there, so there should not be any problem of establishing concrete

bases.

(iii) Minimum Ground Clearance-

The minimum ground clearance as per I. E. Rules should be

Sl

No.

Locations of lines Clearance (meters)

415V 11 kV 33kV

1 Line erected across a street 5.8 6.1 6.1

2 Line erected along a street 5.5 5.8 6.1

3 Line erected other than along

or across a street

4.6 4.6 5.2

4 Line passing over the highest

point of any building

2.5 3.7 3.7

5 Line passing by the side of

any structure

1.2 1.2 2.0

The clearance between conductors and trees shall not be less than 2.6m for 11 kV lines

and 2.8 m for 33 kV lines. The sag and swing of the conductors are to be kept in view

while working out the minimum clearances. It should be taken care of that trees felled or

lopped are restricted only to the extent required for preventing electrical hazards.

80

Comments:-During the field inspection and also from enquiry reports received from

State Forest Department for the last 2-3 years, it is observed that minimum ground

clearance as well as the clearance between the conductors and the trees were not

maintained almost in all cases, this is the prime reason of electrocution deaths.

Proper distance between the poles has to be ensured so that minimum ground clearance is

maintained at every point, the undulation of the terrain should be taken into account, and

for uneven grounds shorter span should be maintained. Another reason for not having

proper ground clearance is the inadequate tension in the conductors, which needs to be

checked periodically and proper tension, should be maintained in the conductors. Since

the reach of the elephants are higher, and due to undulating topography in forested areas,

there should be stress on posting taller pillars in the forest areas, particularly for the 11

KV transmission lines, the higher pole height will ensure higher ground clearance. It is

suggested that ground clearance of 5.5 meter from the conductor invariably be followed

in all forests and also in areas with significant chunk of vegetation.

(iv) Inspection of the lines:- Concerned Electricity Utility/Department should undertake

rigorous exercise to inspect the lines to ensure that mandatory ground clearances, as

stipulated in the I. E. Rules, 1956, are not violated. Lines should be inspected

periodically, say, at least once in a year by Electricity Utility/Department officials and

corrective actions shall be taken in this regard. Maintenance of the minimum ground

clearance and periodical inspection should be certified by an officer not below the rank of

Executive Engineer.

Forest Department Officials shall immediately inform the concerned power supplier/line

owner of the area about any defects or any abnormality noted by them in the line or sub-

station and suitable remedial steps shall be taken by the power supplier/line owner at the

first opportunity to rectify the defects.

Comments:-During the field inspection the electricity department officials were

requested to show their maintenance records on periodical inspection, which they failed

81

to show, also they failed to provide the same information later. It implies that periodical

inspections of lines, which should be at least once in a year by electricity

utility/department officials, were not carried out.

It is the prime duty of electricity utility companies/department to carry out regular line

inspection. Staff shortage, as the electricity officials told the committee members during

the field inspection, also inadequate infrastructure, results in poor monitoring of the

distribution lines.

(a) In view of overlooking of the maintenance schedule, monitoring even though a

mandatory component for the electricity distribution companies, now needs much higher

stress and need to be practiced in a real sense. An independent authority should examine

their monitoring schedule, at least one member should be from the State Forest

Department, and there should be an eminent wildlife expert from non government

organizations for bringing neutrality Reduction of fund for maintenance, as told by the

officials of the electricity department during the time of inspection, is the prime reason

for not ensuring proper safety in electricity lines. A definite percentage of revenue

should be earmarked for the maintenance of old transmission lines.

(b) Also since regular line inspection is actually not happening, and external involvement

is not there too, to bring effectiveness into the system, it is suggested that joint inspection

of every power distribution line should be carried out by officials of electricity

utility/department and Forest Department at least twice in a year which is in addition to

the regular schedule of the distribution companies, distinctly once before the onset of

monsoon and the other after the monsoon, so as to identify vulnerable points and take

remedial actions.

(c) There is provision to appoint Safety Officers under Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

Some of the distribution companies informed that they have appointed safety officers, but

whether due power and authority has been given to the officer is not clear. Also, whether

the safety practices have been codified and practiced is not clear too. During the field

82

inspection, no safety officer of the respective distribution companies interacted with the

committee members; also no written code on safety practices was presented to the

members. It appears that the safety management is taking initial shape, but not actually

fully functional in the field.

(d) Most of the electrocution accidents occurred in areas outside the forest limit, but in

nearby areas with reasonable tree cover. The forest officials (elephant depredation

members) should report about sagging electric lines noticed during the course of their

duty of anti-depredation drives and patrolling and vulnerable areas should be covered. All

such sagging reports, fault in poles etc. should be immediately passed on to local

electricity distribution companies for immediate rectification. The summary report

should be given by the DFO to the Chief Wildlife Warden and Secretary, Department of

Energy for further action.

(v) Right of way

The width of the Right of Way for 33/22 kV and 11kV lines shall not be less than 15m

and 7 m respectively.

This right of way has not been maintained.

Comment:- Invariably the appropriate right of way should be maintained as stated above.

(vi) Line span

(ii) Line span shall depend upon various factors like topography, wind pressure,

type of support, conductor used and configuration of conductors.

(iii) The height of support and line span should be designed keeping in view the

various zones of wind pressures, the safe limits based on the ultimate tensile

strength of the conductors and the factor of safety as given I. E. Rules, 1956.

(iv) The span lengths should be more or less equal in between two consecutive

pole structures.

Comments:- The line span should depend upon factors like topography, etc. As the line

span increases the sagging increases and at mid point the distance between the conductor

83

and the earth remains at the minimum and many a time alarmingly at much lower height.

During different meetings the sagging was reported, even during the Chief Secretary’s

meeting held on 5-1-2010 the Secy. Energy Department, informed that the non-adherence

of permissible maximum distance from pole to pole has resulted in sagging of

transmission lines and this has been due to inadequate funds for the purpose.

The VP, NESCO, Balasore informed that from the erstwhile OSEB/ GRIDCO period

detailed record of Line & S/S, year of installations, distance between poles, pole height,

sag and swing accounts have not been maintained till date. However the main trunk 33

KV, 11 KV & LT lines were constructed since 1970 with LT span 50m, 11KV line span

100 mtr and 33 KV line span 110 mtr to 120 mtr. Now 11 KV lines are erected with 65

mtr average span length and LT with 40 mtr average span length. In order to increase

ground clearance of old lines, intermittent poles/ replacements with taller poles are being

erected in phases. The substations are being fenced with boundary wall/ barbed wire.

It transpires that the permissible distance from pole to pole has not been maintained

which results in higher sag and swing and this culminates to many electrocution deaths.

The transmission companies, it appears that, do not want to burden themselves with the

responsibilities of maintaining proper pole to pole distance. Initially, due to inappropriate

lay out, the poles were set up at longer distances, beyond the present maximum

permissible length, it is almost double the span length than the span length practiced

now for 11 KV lines. This and it should not be the continuous excuse for excessive sag

at present, rather there should have been a plan in place to add more number of poles

much earlier and the pole to pole distance should have been maintained by this time.

Electricity department should ensure proper maintenance of pole to pole distance and

concerned requisite funds should be made available for such replacement of poles.

(vii) Short circuit protection of distribution lines:

(i) Fast acting protection relays/releases may be provided for distribution lines.

84

(ii) Auto-reclosures must not be used on distribution lines passing through the

areas of wildlife existence.

Comments:-The circuit breaking mechanisms were inquired into. It transpires from the

discussion with the field officials and people, during visit to Hindol and Telkoi, that the

circuit did not break during the time of accidents, and definitely it did not break in the

case of electrocution death at Telkoi in which three elephants died. The current, in

Telkoi case, flowed continuously for a long time, thus burning the trunk of the elephant

and causing further death of 2 more elephants, which are the proofs of long duration

current flow. The fast acting protection system is either absent or non-functional in the

distribution systems.

Since the electricity department is bypassing this important safety mechanism, it is

suggested that they should check the protection system as per the guidelines of the I.E.

rules and other rules pertaining to electricity distribution system, in the presence of forest

officials and an eminent member in the field of electricity distribution who should be

selected by forest department, invariably once in a quarter so that safety aspects are not

overlooked.

(viii) Use of insulated cables: Seeing the record of the distribution companies, the

higher accident rates, earlier flaws in the system, human inertia and indifference, loss of

focus with time, it is suggested that the transmission lines, particularly 11KV conductors

and below should invariably be insulted in new cases, and for older transmission lines

the replacement should be phase wise, in areas inside forest and around 10 Kilometers

radius of forest areas/ significant green areas. In case insulated conductor may be too

costly sheathing of the conductor may be tried.

From the letter of VP NESCO, Balasore, it transpires that the Govt. of Orissa is probably

thinking in insulating the 11KV lines and replacement of LT OH line by AB cable in the

districts of Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. .

85

5.B. Proactive action of Forest Department:

In many meetings, suggestions came from different quarter, prominent among them is the

meeting with the Chief Secretary, Government of Orissa, which state that the DFO would

deploy the elephant squads, elephant trackers, elephant inspectors to keep a track of the

elephants and the DFO will report the sagging of the electrical lines to different

authorities.

There are stray cases where specific information was given by the forest department but

due action was not taken by the electricity department. Forest Dept should continuously

provide site specific information available to them to rectify the conductors and pole

heights, to concerned in-charge electricity distribution companies. “Wildlife protection

against electrocution Cell” should be set up covering a district or a manageable area with

members from Electricity Department, Forest Department, NGO, Police Department, etc.

This cell should be set up by the local electricity authorities at District level as per

Electricity authorities of GOI circular referred to in the concerned communication and

forest department should cooperate.

5C. Additional Safety Practices-

a. It has been observed that the training of electrical staffs has not been given due

importance, which was apparent at different places. The officials of the electricity

distribution companies failed to answer simple queries raised by the committee

members. The company should arrange for proper training for its personnel.

b. Regular periodic inspection by State Electrical Inspectorate may be carried out

once a year positively and all electrical accidents should be investigated, analyzed

and remedial measures suggested/recommended by him be faithfully implemented

by the electric utility. Electrical inspectorate should not wait for deposit of fees

by concerned agency.

86

c. Technical audit of the power distribution system should be taken up by competent

and independent bodies/individuals and that technical audit report should be seen

by the Chief Executive.

5.D. Special Comments on Electrical Safety Protection System by Shri

A. Jha Committee Member:

Principles and practices of effective safety management :

1.0 Process Safety is the key to effective safety Management

1.1 Design the Process safety system, not only for the process & equipment, but

also for the people and in this particular case the elephant and other animals

of the forest.

1.2 Operate the system, well within the technical parameters, so that upset

conditions do not appear.

1.3 The protective safety interlock, must be provided against any upset

condition and must have levels of back-up in case the primary level

protection fails due to any reason whatsoever.

1.4 The availability and setting of the protective interlock must be known to

each and every person responsible for the operation and maintenance.

1.5 At no point of time any of the protective interlocks should be by-passed.

In-case, the technical parameters are not maintained, allow the protective

system interlocks to work and affect the trip out, lest a disaster should strike.

1.6 Have a system of Technical audit to ensure a healthy operating system at

all times.

2.0 The Near miss cases hold the key for effective Safety Management

2.1 The universally acknowledged statistics for unsafe occurrences suggests that

for every 300 near miss cases, there are about 30 cases of injury and out of

that one case could have been fatal.

87

2.2 Analyse the impending hazard, by technical analysis to find the root cause

and have a time bound action plan to eliminate the root cause. Track the

action into action.

2.3 Till such time the root cause is eliminated , the system should not be allowed

to be run, unless 2nd line of safety with extra surveillance is in place.

3.0 A properly educated and trained man power for operation and

maintenance of the system would ensure safe operation.

3.1 Training after recruitment and promotion and refresher training at regular

intervals really helps in imbibing and nurturing the safety culture

3.2 A system of safety talk by the supervisor/team leader before start of the work

in each work shift is a practice widely followed these days.

3.3 Provide with the proper tools and tackles for safe work on the system.

4.0 The last line of safety is the personal protective equipment, aimed at

protecting the person by effectively shielding the person from the hazardous

effect of the situation.

5.0 Communication with the community, in case the unsafe situation of the

process & equipment is going to affect the community

6.0 Statutory laws and guidelines are specifying only the minimum conditions

for safety. These should never be compromised.

7.0 Have a system of safety audit. This will help bring out the system failures to

the notice of top management, who are ultimately responsible for any serious

occurrence in the organisation.

Two Broad Principles of electrical safety are:

1- Hazardous Live parts of electricity conductors shall not be accessible

And

2- The accessible conductive parts shall not be hazardous.

Our evaluation based on the above principles is that :

a) Electrical Power distribution through the forest areas have been extended

using the 11KV bare conductors, that are Highly Hazardous.

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b) There have been compromises on the design of the Safety system in as much

as Circuit Breakers have not been provided in most of the lines while

extending the 11KV feeders under various schemes in the forest and adjoining

areas.

c) No protective interlock could work without a Circuit Breaker.

d) The lay out of these hazardous conducting parts have not been able to strictly

conform to the techno-statutory guidelines, on account of various reasons.

e) As such, the live conducing hazardous parts of the power supply and

distribution system are and become accessible to humans and animals,

from time to time, as compliance to the rules and guidelines has been difficult.

f) The operator of the power supply system has limited supervision.

g) Power interruptions are too many and there is no functional system for fault

analysis.

h) The education and training of the field staff is limited to somehow extending

the power supply. Many of them do not know the regulation requirement,

while discharging their duty.

i) There is no system of technical or safety audit.

j) The electrical inspectorate, which is a statutory authority, expresses its

helplessness in inspecting the condition of power distribution system and

enforcing the safety norms.

k. With the current status of the protective devices, where circuit breakers mostly

not available/non-functional Power Supply by using only LT (415Volts AC

or below), protected by guard wires /earthing net so as to prevent the

conductor from falling to the ground, may be allowed to pass through the

forest areas. The low voltage level would limit the instantaneous current flow

on touching the conductor by the elephant to around 12mA and the animal

could possibly detach itself.

l. The power lines must have the mandatory protection system in place so that

the fault could be isolated fast (Total fault isolation time, maximum. 6-7

cycles)

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m. For Crop Protection, farmers may be encouraged to use Bee Hives on the

periphery plantation of the farm areas.

n. Concerted efforts have to be made to improve the safety culture of the

distribution companies.

o. System of Technical Audit as well as Safety audit by third parties should be

made mandatory

p. Involvement of the stake holders of RGGVY & BKJY on the platform of the

committee for prevention of electrocution of elephants is.

q. Safety practices should be codified properly and regular review of the safety

practices should be undertaken.

r. Basic design and techno-statutory guidelines are not followed, while

extending the power distribution network in Orissa.

s. The electricity department, the distribution companies as well as the forest

department have been trying their level best particularly since the year 2004

but there is little overall improvement.

t. This committee feels that no amount of supervision could improve the

situation unless the heart of the problem i.e. all the power distribution network

passing the vulnerable forest and nearby areas must strictly comply to the

sound design of the electrical distribution system.

u. Had there been only 415 volt system passing through forest areas, the elephant

electrocution might not have been there as the elephant could easily withstand

to a mili ampere current and detach itself from the conductor.

v. A research study may be undertaken to determine the physiological effect of

various levels of electric current on the elephant body, so that appropriate

protection system could be designed and placed in the power lines passing

through the forest areas, so as to prevent the electrocution death of elephants.

Till such time, the elephant specific protection system comes into practice, the

ELCB for human system, i.e. with 30mA earth leakage current, the circuit

should trip and fault isolated should be implemented.

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5.E. Wildlife offence prosecution scenario:-

In Orissa during last 10 years, several elephants died by coming in contact with live

electric conductors of 220 volt, 11 kv, 33 kv etc., and the details are already mentioned

earlier. Due to large number of deaths of elephants, many concerned electricity

department officials were prosecuted, and necessary offence cases were booked against

them. About 4 years back, one male elephant in Karanjia Forest Division got in contact

with live wire of a leaning electric pole and died instantaneously. In this case, concerned

local linesman of electricity service provider agency was prosecuted. Similarly, 3

elephants died in Bamara Wild Life Division in two cases and FIRs were drawn against

Executive Engineer of local electricity distribution company along with other officials

under WL Act 1972. Efforts were made to arrest these officials but they procured

anticipatory bail from Hon’ble High Court, Orissa. In Keonjhar Dist., several elephants

died due to electrocution because of low level and sagging electric lines. Recently, three

elephants died in Telkoi Range of Keonjhar forest division and cases are booked against

Executive Engineer and other officials. In Angul Forest Division and Satkosia Wild Life

Division, elephants died due to negligence in maintenance of the transmission lines and

necessary cases were booked against local electricity department officials. In Dhenkanal

Dist, one elephant died in a village in Hindol and cases were booked against executive

engineer and other electricity department officials. Similarly several private persons were

arrested, forwarded to judicial custody and remained in jail for a long time and several

prosecutions were launched against such private persons for drawing live wire to kill

elephants and other wild animals. Several such cases are reported from Keonjhar

division, Angul division, Dhenkanal division, Atagarh division, etc. Similarly electricity

department officials were booked in Keonjhar division for abetting and for providing

conductors to local people for drawing live wires from nearby pole to prevent elephant

and other wild animal depredation and also some times to kill deer and other animals for

meat purpose. All these cases remain in courts, pending for years together mostly 5 years

and above, and no such major conviction is reported so far in Orissa as the cases have not

reached such stage of conviction and those are in a early stage of prosecution.

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It is a fact that a Govt. servant cannot be prosecuted due to inherent protection provided

to him by law and necessary permission from the concerned administrative department is

sought. But such permissions are generally not received in any case from concerned

administrative department. In such cases respective DFOs launch prosecution without

waiting for permission as prosecution is usually launched within one year of commission

of offence to avoid time bar in prosecution. In such cases the prosecution will be

inherently defective and doesn’t yield much success.

Usually prosecution is launched against a private person for drawing a live conductor for

killing an elephant, is treated as an act of hunting, can be comfortably prosecuted and

convicted under Section-9, Sec-29 if it is in Sanctuary, Sec-35 if it is in National park,

Animals and tools/vehicles involved in commission of offence seized under Sec-39,

arrested under section-50, abettors to the offence are booked under section-52, onus of

proof lies with accused under section-57 as per punishments prescribed under section-51

of Wildlife Protection Act-1972. The power distribution companies can be prosecuted

and their officials can be prosecuted under section-58 for offences committed under this

act. Usually the flag ship species like tiger, leopard, elephant, bear, etc are included in

Schedule-1 of the wild life protection act and killing of such animals attract a punishment

ranging from 3 years to 7 years and fine of Rs.25000/- etc.

Details on prosecution have not been received from the State Forest Department, they

were reminded couple of times too, and the proforma in which information was asked is

enclosed at annexure.

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5.F. Need to amend Wild life Protection Act-1972:

Generally the power distribution officials are booked under section-9, 39, 50, 52, 57, 58

and 51 of Wildlife Protection Act-1972. But the prosecution will not be fool proof

because there is no direct section available under wild life protection act for the offence

committed by power company officials. They have not intentionally hunted, hence it is

not direct hunting but an indirect hunting. So we should have a section in wild life

protection act like Section-304 of IPC like punishment for culpable homicide not

amounting to murder. If we have a section where a person by act of their negligence

causing death to wild animals can be punished with an imprisonment prescribed under

section-51 of the act or 3 years, or for 5 years or for 7 years and with a certain quantum

of fine, then the impact would be better. Because of absence of such section under Wild

life Protection Act, all the persons who negligently caused death to wild animals like

electricity department officials/employees, drivers of the vehicles who hit and kill wild

animals, train drivers who kill animals while driving trains etc., escape from the long arm

of law and escape punishment. Such killing of wild animals by rash driving of

vehicles/trains and power distribution companies, etc. will go on unabated unless a direct

section is provided. There is only one recent case of conviction of a train driver by court

for killing elephant in India and such cases can be counted on fingers. Such lacunae in the

Wild life Protection Act needs to be rectified and act needs to be strengthened rather than

blaming the prosecution system for failure of the same.

******

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Location of accident where 3 elephants died Death of 3 elephants ( 1- tusker,2- females) at Telkoi on 31.07.2010 at Durllavapur under Telkoi block underKeonjhar Division- Tusker Seen

Durllavapur electrocution death, due to continuous flow of current the trunk is half burnt.

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SECTION- 6

Recommendations:

A. The power lines must have the mandatory protection system in place so that the

fault could be isolated fast (Total fault isolation time, maximum. 6-7 cycles, say

125 milli seconds).

B. The DISTCOMs should ensure the compliance to the design and techno-statutory

guidelines, within a time frame.

C. Use of Guard spikes/barbed wire fencing- Guard spikes with proper modification

should be put on the electric poles. All the new constructions in vulnerable areas

should invariably be with guard spike/ barbed wire fencing. When the existing

poles are replaced, then the replacement poles should invariably be with guard

spike/ barbed wire fencing. There should be barbed wire fencing/ wall around the

transformers also.

D. Concreting the pillar base: The poles/towers should be embedded underground

with firm concrete foundation and proper coping and staying should be done so

that the poles do not tilt or fall down under any circumstances.

E. Minimum Ground Clearance-Minimum ground clearance of 5.5 meter should be

maintained in all vulnerable areas, for all transmission lines of 11 kV and below.

F. Right of way - The width of the Right of Way for 33/22 kV and 11kV lines shall

not be less than 15m and 7 m respectively and should invariably be maintained.

Regular trimming/ pollarding of trees should be done for the entire length of line

passing through vulnerable areas.

G. Line span- Proper line span suiting to the factors like topography, wind pressure,

type of support, conductor used and configuration of conductors etc should be

decided for new lines. Where the line span is more than the desired length

additional poles should be erected to rectify the line span mistake.

H. Use of insulated cables:- The transmission lines, particularly 11kV conductors

and below, should invariably be insulted in new cases. For older transmission

lines, the replacement should be phase wise with insulated cables for all

vulnerable areas- inside forests and areas within 10 kilometers radius of forest

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areas and in areas with significant number of trees/ greenery. This would also

reduce the huge so called T&D losses.

I. Charging of New Lines- No new line should be charged in forest and other

vulnerable areas, within 10 km radius of forest and major green areas, without

proper certification of its safety from forest department too; the forest department

to judge the safety of the system should take the advice of at least one eminent

wildlife expert outside the government and also an eminent electrical expert

nominated by the forest department.

J. A certain percentage of revenue should be ploughed back for maintenance of

electricity distribution lines.

K. Regular inspection of own electrical distribution network should be a mandatory

component of operation for the electricity distribution companies, their line

inspection schedule, performance of safety mechanism etc. should be scrutinized

by the forest department and an eminent wildlife expert from non government

organization and an electrical expert nominated by forest department for that

purpose.

L. The Electrical Inspectorate should carry out mandatory inspection without waiting

for the fees to be deposited by the Distribution Companies.

M. Regular joint inspection of every power distribution line in vulnerable areas inside

forest as well as outside forest should be carried out by officials of electricity

utility/department and forest department not less than two times in a year which is

in addition to regular inspection schedule of the distribution companies, definitely

one before the onset of monsoon and the other after the monsoon. The electricity

department should initiate steps for the joint inspection schedule.

N. Wildlife Offence- The legal proceedings should invariably be initiated for each

elephant electrocution death. A law officer should be appointed by the wildlife

wing of the state forest department for proper following of the legal cases.

O. The Wild life Protection Act-1972 may be critically judged and amendments if

required may be taken up soon to plug the legal loop holes, in prosecution.

P. The CEI (T&D) should go for prosecution of licenses of distribution companies

who do not carry out inspection in their installations.

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Q. Safety Practices-

a. The entire new project including the RGGVY, BGGVY should follow the

safety norms, no new charging should be allowed without proper protection

mechanism.

b. The distribution companies should provide proper training to their personnel,

not only on operation and maintenance, but also on the safety aspects of the I.

E. Rules, I. E. Act, and Electrical codes and practices.

c. The distribution lines should have proper earthing as per relevant clause of IE

Rules 1956 and earth resistance for substation and lines should be one ohm

and ten ohms respectively, measurements be taken in dry season once a year.

d. Technical audit of the distribution system should be conducted every year by

independent and reputed and competent third parties.

e. Appropriate tension of the conductors should be maintained.

f. Third party inspection by State Electrical Inspectors may be carried out once a

year positively and all electrical accidents should be investigated, analyzed

and remedial measures suggested/recommended by him to be faithfully

implemented by the electric utility. Electrical inspection should not wait for

deposit of fees by concerned agency.

g. Extension of distribution system by providing only fuse protection or

sometimes by thick jumper wires should be totally avoided. Fast acting

circuit breaker with suitable sensitive relays/releases may be provided at each

branching off so that faults are cleared in minimum time.

h. Earth leakage circuit breakers should be installed in sensitive forest areas

where poaching by electrocution is prevalent.

i. Auto-reclose facility may not be provided in distribution lines passing through

areas of wildlife existence.

j. Effectiveness of circuit breaking and protection system may be ascertained at

least once a year by proper testing and current injection methods.

k. The safety practices should be simplified, proper code made, and distributed

in written form to the lower level. The forest department should have

prerogative to check the implementation.

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Annexure

Annexure-1 Details of electrical accidents of elephant due to electrocution under

different distribution companies

Annexure-2 Elephant statistics on death of elephants, population trend, division-

wise death and details

Annexure-3 Guideline for construction and maintenance of power distribution

lines (33 KV and below) for protection of wildlife

Annexure-4 Administrative developments under Energy Deptt., Govt. of Orissa

Annexure-5 Administrative developments under PCCF (WL) Govt. of Orissa

Annexure-6 Questionnaires developed for getting information from the State

Annexure-7 Joint inspection report of Energy Department & District

Administration of Govt. of Orissa in Telkoi electrocution case.

Annexure-7 Report of Sri A. Jha & Sri P. Gaan