Jairam Ramesh's initiative to save elephants

Kolkata: Minister of state for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh announced a seven crore rupee plan to develop forest infrastructure along railway tracks in North Bengal's Jalpaiguri after seven elephants were crushed to death by a goods train there last week.

"10 towers will be set up at vulnerable points along the 160 km stretch and the Centre has offered a 7 crore assistance package for railway development work like embankments, fencing and girders," he said.

Two other key steps are also on the anvil. The first being the fresh recruitment of more forest guards and the second, setting new limits on the speed of trains that pass through the 160 km stretch between Alipurduar and Siliguri.

"I have written to Mamata Banerjee on specific points such as speed control where we have asked specially for goods train for speed to be reduced from 70 km an hour to 30 km an hour and the most important thing is speed control. We will require for the entire stretch of 160 km," Jairam Ramesh added.

Although, railway sources say it is impossible to run trains at 30 km an hour over 160 km but Jairam Ramesh plans to meet Mamata Banerjee soon to thrash out a solution.

The environment minister is leaving no stone unturned to save the pachyderms that have just been declared national heritage animals.