Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses questions regarding the status of Project Elephant, human-elephant conflict mitigation, and coordination with other ministries. The document details financial and technical assistance provided to states, measures to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks, and the development of guidelines for eco-friendly infrastructure. A comprehensive report identifies and prioritizes vulnerable railway stretches for mitigation.
Key Points / Main Content:
Project Elephant Status and Funding:
* Financial and technical assistance is provided to State Governments/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Project Tiger Elephant (CSSPTE).
* The assistance supports the protection of elephants, their habitat, and corridors.
* It also addresses human-elephant conflict and the welfare of captive elephants.
* Funding is allocated based on the Annual Plan of Operations submitted by each State/UT.
* The scheme is implemented in all elephant range states, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation:
* The Ministry coordinates with the Ministry of Railways to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks through inter-ministerial meetings.
* Measures include speed restrictions in elephant habitats and pilot projects such as seismic sensor-based elephant detection.
* Construction of underpasses, ramps, and fencing is also undertaken.
Eco-Friendly Infrastructure Guidelines:
* The Wildlife Institute of India, in consultation with the Ministry and stakeholders, has published a document on eco-friendly measures to mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure.
* This assists project agencies in designing infrastructure, including railway lines, to reduce human-animal conflict.
Railway Track Mitigation Report:
* A report titled "Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant & Other Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India" has been prepared.
* The report is based on field surveys across 127 identified railway stretches spanning 3,452.4 km.
* 77 railway stretches covering 1,965.2 km across 14 States have been prioritized for mitigation based on wildlife movement intensity.
* The report, including identified stretches and mitigation measures, has been shared with State Governments and the Ministry of Railways.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/UTs Administrations:
* Impact: Receive financial and technical assistance for elephant conservation and conflict mitigation efforts.
* Action Required: Submit Annual Plans of Operations to receive funding under the CSSPTE scheme and implement the mitigation measures identified in the railway track report.
Ministry of Railways:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing measures to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.
* Action Required: Implement speed restrictions, construct underpasses, ramps, and fencing and take note of the shared report and implement the site-specific interventions.
Project Agencies (Infrastructure Development):
* Impact: Need to design linear infrastructure projects in a manner that reduces human-animal conflict.
* Action Required: Consult the "Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure" document to incorporate eco-friendly designs.
Wildlife Institute of India:
* Impact: Responsible for providing expertise and guidance on mitigating the impact of infrastructure on wildlife.
* Action Required: Continue to provide support and updates to the eco-friendly measures document based on new research and best practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Project Elephant: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the protection of elephants, their habitat and corridors.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and conservation.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India, identified as an elephant range state under Project Elephant.
Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka: A district in Karnataka, mentioned in relation to human-elephant conflict.
Ministry of Railways: An Indian government ministry involved in coordinated efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict, specifically regarding elephant deaths on railway tracks.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India, with potential expansion of Project Elephant coverage.
DewasShajapur: Regions in Madhya Pradesh, considered for expansion of Project Elephant and habitat connectivity programs.
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun: An institution that published a document on eco-friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3508
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Status of Project Elephant
3508. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:
SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:
SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY:
DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:
SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:
SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the current status of Project Elephant along with the steps taken to address human-
elephant conflict under this Project and the outcome achieved, State-wise including
Chhattisgarh and Dakshina Kannada district;
(b) whether there have been any coordinated efforts with other ministries such as the
Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Power or Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
to reduce human-wildlife conflict, if so, the details thereof along with outcome of said
efforts, State-wise including said places;
(c) whether Project Elephant has been planned to cover parts of Madhya Pradesh, including
regions adjacent to Dewas–Shajapur, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any elephant movement, habitat corridor mapping, or conflict mitigation has
been identified in or near forested areas of the region, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has coordinated with Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to
create elephant-sensitive landscapes near Dewas-Shajapur districts; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government will consider expanding
Project Elephant and habitat connectivity programme to Dewas–Shajapur?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (f) The Ministry is providing financial and technical assistance to State
Governments/UTs Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Project Tiger & Elephant (CSS-PT&E) for protection of elephants, their habitat
and corridors, to address issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of captiveelephants in the country. Financial assistance is provided under the scheme as per
the Annual Plan of Operations submitted by the State Governments/UTs
Administration for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The
scheme is implemented in all elephant range states including the State of
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, in coordination with the
Ministry of Railways, has taken several measures to prevent elephant deaths on
railway tracks including conducting inter-ministerial meetings. Speed restrictions
in elephant habitats, pilot projects like seismic sensor-based elephant detection,
construction of underpasses, ramps, fencing, have been undertaken at various
locations.
Further, the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun in consultation with the Ministry
of Environment Forest, and Climate Change and other stakeholders has published
a document namely ‘Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear
Infrastructure’ to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure,
including railway lines, in a manner that reduces human-animal conflict.
A comprehensive report titled “Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant & Other
Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India” has been
prepared after field surveys across 127 identified railway stretches spanning a
total of 3,452.4 km. Based on the intensity of wildlife movement, 77 railway
stretches covering 1,965.2 km across 14 States have been prioritized for
mitigation along with site-specific interventions. The report containing the details
of the identified stretches and the mitigation measures has been also shared with
the State Governments and the Ministry of Railways.
***