Bhubaneswar: In a significant move, the Orissa High Court has summoned Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Susanta Nanda, to appear before it on November 26.
This action follows the tragic electrocution deaths of three elephants in the Naktideul forest range of Sambalpur district.
The court’s directive comes after the elephants, including two adult females and a calf, were found dead due to contact with live wires allegedly laid by poachers. The incident has raised serious concerns about wildlife protection and the effectiveness of current measures to prevent such tragedies.
The High Court has initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address the issue, seeking a detailed response from the Odisha government. The court has specifically questioned the role of poachers and the preventive measures in place to avoid such incidents in the future.
In response to the incident, three forest department officials have been suspended, and two suspected poachers have been detained. The Forest Department has also recommended action against two senior officers for negligence.
PCCF Susanta Nanda has attributed the deaths to a lack of vigilance and has warned of strict actions against those responsible. The court has also asked for a comprehensive report on the number of elephant deaths in Odisha from 2020 to date, along with the steps taken to investigate these incidents.
