Taking steps to curb wildlife casualties: Assam to NGT

Assam government has told the National Green Tribunal that it is taking steps to curb increasing wildlife casualties due to vehicular movement on National Highway 37 in Kaziranga National Park.
The submission came in an affidavit placed before the Tribunal in the wake of increasing animal fatalities in the national park due to movement of vehicles.
The state government has told the Tribunal that speed cameras fixed in three interceptor vehicles are already in operation and violators were being penalised.
"In addition to these three vehicles, process was underway for procuring two more vehicles at a cost of Rs 54.64 lakhs and it was also planning to spend another Rs 20 lakh for buying breath analysers," the affidavit said.

It further said that the idea to construct flyovers to reduce disturbance to wild animals has been modified in the wake of new areas being added to the Kaziranga Park and alternative solutions like tunnels would be explored.
Assam government has also proposed use of thermal (infra red) camera and manual regulation of traffic with warning lights instead of automated barriers which are difficult to operate.

It said that action has been initiated to install unmanned fixed speed cameras at both ends of the identified corridors. These systems would be an integral part of the animal sensor network.
On the issue of ban on roadside shops and eateries along the animal corridors near Kaziranga National Park, the state has said that necessary action has been initiated through Assam Revenue and Disater Management Department.

The Tribunal's direction came while hearing a plea filed by environmentalist Rohit Choudhury opposing expansion of the highway stretch claiming that "continued unregulated use of NH-37 is leading to death of wild animals and reptiles in large numbers in road accidents".