WCA MAY 2015

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40 Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2015
Elephants’ cable conservation
India
SAGGING power lines and illegally electrified fences are
among the major causes of deaths among the large
elephant population in Karnataka.
In a move to prevent the deaths, Chamundeshwari
Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) has sought funds from
the state government to install insulated electric cables in
regions where the density of elephants is relatively high.
Since 2009 a total of 66 elephants have died of
electrocution in the state, with eight deaths in 2014/15
alone.
Speaking to the Deccan Herald, Cesc’s director (technical)
Bhagya Naik, said that installing insulated cables would
support animal conservation programmes in the region.
“While conventional cables are live, and touching them
would result in electrocution, accidental contact with
insulated cables will not be lethal to the elephants,” he said.
“We have requested the state government to sanction the
funds for the project in the coming budget.”
Sources reveal the insulated cables will be installed near
villages on the fringes of forests in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar,
Kodagu and Hassan districts, where the movement of
elephants has been well documented.
Cesc’s original plan to install underground cables in regions
where elephants are at risk of electrocution has been
abandoned: “Insulated cables will be a better alternative
than laying underground cables,” sources added.
Besides the recent proposal, Cesc has also taken up works in
16 taluks of the so-called Elephant Corridor, where 1,313km
of high and low tension lines were surveyed and 6,280
intermediate poles installed to prevent the lines from sagging.
Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation – India
Website:
Steel peaks
Tata Steel sales were up by three per cent in the December
quarter, against the same period last year. The company
achieved the highest-ever pellet production of 1.03 million
tonnes in the quarter.
Output also peaked for wire rods and flat products, with the
company’s highest ever quarter sales to the automotive
segment of 0.34 million tonnes (the previous best being 0.28
million tonnes).
Tata Steel had anticipated that profits would be under
pressure during the December quarter, due to an acute
shortage of iron ore and consequent lower production.
Tata Steel – India Website:
Insight