A meeting held in Parliament on Wednesday to review progress on the action plan for reducing elephant-train collisions has proposed a set of new measures for the Eastern Railway Line, according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment reported by NewsFirst.
The central proposal is to replace the locomotives currently running on the line with modern locomotives and train sets that give drivers a clearer view of the surrounding environment and allow more efficient control of train speed. The meeting also discussed adding high-powered engines that let drivers observe the track ahead clearly, and upgrading the signboards already in place at points where elephants cross the line.
Water and lighting between Habarana and Kantale
A second strand of the plan targets the stretch between the Habarana and Kantale railway stations, where elephants approach the tracks to drink. The Ministry said it has been proposed to provide alternative water sources to keep the animals away from the line, with work planned to construct water pools at two suitable locations and supply water to them.
The meeting also considered installing solar-powered lighting fitted with motion sensors to improve visibility along both sides of the track. The Ministry said a programme has been proposed to install 30 hanging lamps powered by solar panels so that train drivers can clearly observe both sides of the railway line.
Context
Collisions between trains and elephants have been a recurring cause of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka’s dry-zone railway corridors, and the Eastern Line through the Habarana region runs close to areas elephants use to move and water.
The filing describes a progress review of an existing action plan rather than a new programme, and does not state which agencies will fund or implement the measures, give a timeline for the works, or report how many collisions have occurred on the line to date.
