Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Wildlife Killed On Railway Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, SUSHMITA DEV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 16 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## WILDLIFE KILLED ON RAILWAY TRACKS

16. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  the number of elephants and wild life killed on the railway tracks during the last three years and the current year in the country, zonewise and State-wise along with the reasons therefor;

(b)  whether the Railways has conducted any inquiry in the matter;

(c)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d)  the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to check recurrence of such incidents on the railway tracks in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 16 BY SHRI JANARDAN  SINGH SIGRIWAL AND KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.07.2018 REGARDING WILDLIFE KILLED ON RAILWAY TRACKS

(a) The details of elephants and wild life killed on the railway tracks due to train hits year-wise and zone-wise during the last three years and the current year are as under:

| Year               | 2015 Item         | 2015 Item         | 2016 Item         | 2016 Item         | 2017 Item         | 2017 Item         | 2018* Item        | 2018* Item        | Total Item        | Total Item        |
|--------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Railway            | E^                | W^^               | E^                | W^^               | E^                | W^^               | E^                | W^^               | E^                | W^^               |
| East Central       | 0                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 |
| East Coast         | 1                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 | 1                 |
| Northern           | 1                 | 0                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 3                 | 0                 | 5                 | 0                 |
| North Eastern      | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 2                 | 1                 | 1                 | 0                 | 3                 | 1                 |
| Northeast Frontier | 9                 | 0                 | 9                 | 0                 | 5                 | 0                 | 8                 | 0                 | 31                | 0                 |
| Southern           | 0                 | 0                 | 4                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 4                 | 0                 |
| South Central      | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 6                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 6                 |
| South Eastern      | 0                 | 0                 | 5                 | 0                 | 1                 | 0                 | 4                 | 0                 | 10                | 0                 |
| South East Central | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 | 1                 |
| South Western      | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 1                 | 0                 | 2                 | 1                 | 3                 | 1                 |
| West Central       | 0                 | 2                 | 0                 | 2                 | 0                 | 4                 | 0                 | 3                 | 0                 | 11                |
| Total              | 11                | 4                 | 19                | 8                 | 10                | 6                 | 18                | 4                 | 58                | 22                |
| *Upto 30.06.2018.  | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. | *Upto 30.06.2018. |

(b) to (d) In cases of killing of elephants/wild life on railway tracks, Zonal  Railways  investigate  the  incidences  and  conduct  inquiry wherever necessary. Based on the findings in investigation/enquiry, a  number  of  preventive  measures  are  taken  by  Zonal  Railways  in coordination with Ministry of Environment and Forest which include the following:

(i) Imposition of speed restrictions in identified locations,

(ii)  Provision  of  signage  board  to  warn  loco  pilots  about  identified elephant corridors,

(iii)  Sensitization  of  Train  Crew  and  Station  Masters  on  a  regular basis,

(iv)  Need  based  clearance  of  vegetation  on  the  sides  of  the  track within railway land,

(v)  Construction  of  underpasses  and  ramps  for  the  movement  of elephants at identified locations and

(vi) Provision of fencing at isolated locations.

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