Elephant habitats, corridors being systematically destroyed, will to preserve absent: Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the destruction of elephant habitats and corridors by mining and other projects, saying the will to protect wildlife is lacking. His remarks followed a Supreme Court order directing a nationwide survey to identify blockages in elephant corridors

New Delhi: Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said elephant habitats and corridors are being systematically destroyed by mining and other projects, asserting that the will to protect and preserve is markedly absent.

His remarks came a day after the Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to conduct a nationwide survey to check if any state has constructed obstacles or created blockades in elephant corridors, saying it was unacceptable.

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Reacting to the development, Ramesh said, “While elephant habitats and corridors are being systematically destroyed by mining & other projects. Surveys exist.”

The will to protect and preserve is markedly absent, the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made it clear that states cannot construct obstacles in the pathways of elephants to prevent loss of crops and livelihoods.

“Construction of any kind of obstacle or creating blockades in elephant corridors is not acceptable. We are very clear that there cannot be obstacles in the way of wildlife. Elephant herds have a practice of travelling long distances. No state can say that just because crops are getting destroyed, they will have to construct obstacles on their path,” the bench said.

Justice Bagchi said the practice of using fireballs and spikes in West Bengal is prevalent because the elephants come from Nepal and through West Bengal they go to Jharkhand and other states.

CJI Kant said elephants are found in Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar area and travel from there to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

“No state can block their path,” the CJI said.

The top court barred the use of any kind of fireballs or mashaals (torches) to chase away elephants and asked state authorities to implement its directions.

Directing the Centre to submit its report within six weeks, the bench observed that there were already mandatory guidelines issued by the environment ministry to ensure seamless and unobstructed elephant corridors passing through different states.

“However, owing to certain local factors, the elephant corridors have been impeded, blocked or obstructed. We direct the Union of India and the ministry to conduct a fresh survey and submit a comprehensive survey report, including the initiatives and necessary steps taken by them to prevent such obstructions,” it said.

The bench said the status report shall also point out the position on the use of fireballs and mashaals or any other coercive action against wildlife.