Lok Sabha Question No. 763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Elephant-Train Collisions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 763

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2017

## Elephant -Train Collisions

## 763. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  there  have  been  reports  of  collisions  of  elephants  with  trains  in  the  past  two years and if so, the details thereof including the casualties resulting from the same;
- (b) the details of the steps taken by the Ministry to reduce the number of such incidents;
- (c) the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  reduce  animal  human  conflict  during  the  said period;
- (d) whether any report has been received regarding constructions, new or previously existing, or environmental clearances granted by the Ministry around the elephant corridors of late; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE):

- (a) Yes Sir, reports of collisions of elephants with trains are received from states, from time to time.  Details of elephant deaths due to collision with train are given in Annexure.
- (b) The  Government  has  taken  the  following  measures,  to  minimise  accidental  deaths  of elephants due to train hits:
- (i) Identification of vulnerable sections of railway tracks.
- (ii) Regular  patrolling  of  vulnerable  stretches  of  railway  tracks  by  frontline  forest staff and wildlife watchers.
- (iii) Forming co-ordination committees of officers of Railways and SFDs.  Exchange of emails/telephone numbers of concerned officers.
- (iv) Sending  letters,  emails,  SMS  messages  regarding  presence  of  elephants  near vulnerable railway tracks.
- (v) Clearing of vegetation along railway tracks to allow unhindered and clear view of train drivers.
- (vi) Providing signages at suitable points to alert train drivers about elephant presence.
- (vii) Avoid  dumping  of  food  waste along railway track to avoid unnecessary congregation of elephants and other wild animals near railway track.
- (viii) Moderating slopes for elevated  sections  of  railway  tracks  so  that  elephants  can negotiate these easily.
- (ix) To provide under pass/over pass at selected places for safe passage of elephants.
- (x) Regulation of train speed from sunset to sunrise in vulnerable stretches.
- (xi) Sensitisation of staff of SFDs, Railways and local people.
- (xii) In order to develop specific strategies and for better coordination committees have been constituted between Zonal Railway Offices and State Forest Departments.
- (c) Steps undertaken by the Government to reduce human animal conflicts are given below:
- (i) Financial and technical assistance is provided to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Integrated Development of  Wildlife  Habitat',  'Project  Tiger'  and  'Project  Elephant',  augmenting  their efforts for management of wildlife and their habitats.
- (ii) Improvement of Protected Areas, Tiger Reserves and Elephant Reserves.
- (iii) Regular and extensive patrolling of forest  areas  and anti poaching measures by frontline filed staff of the State Forest Departments.
- (iv) Trainings  and  awareness  camps  are  organised  regularly  for  local  people  for conservation of wildlife.
- (v) Local communities are organised into Joint Forest Management Committees/Ecodevelopment  Committees  for  protection  of  wildlife  habitat,  including  elephant corridors.
- (vi) Habitat  improvement  and  eco-restoration  is  taken  up  in  critical  areas  of  tiger reserve, elephant reserves and corridors.
- (d) & (e) While considering cases for  clearance  under  Forest  Conservation  Act,  1980  falling  in Elephant Corridors and Elephant Reserves, the matter is dealt as per rules and  as per recommendations of Chief Wildlife Wardens of concerned States/UTs.

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ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 763 RAISED BY SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH REGARDING 'ELEPHANT -TRAIN COLLISIONS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2017.

## ELEPHANT CASUALTIES IN TRAIN ACCIDENTS

| State         |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|
| Assam         |         3 |         3 |
| West Bengal   |         3 |         5 |
| Tamil Nadu    |         0 |         0 |
| Jharkhand     |         0 |         0 |
| Kerala        |         0 |         0 |
| Odisha        |         0 |         1 |
| Tripura       |         0 |         0 |
| Uttarakhand   |         0 |         0 |
| Uttar Pradesh |         0 |         0 |
| Total         |         6 |         9 |