Move Comes After TOI Report On 400 Flamingo Deaths Ahmedabad:Insulate high tension cables or put them underground when they run close to the breeding grounds of the migratory Greater Flamingos in the Khadir region of Kutch. The state forest and environment department issued this order to the Gujarat Energy Transmission Company (Getco) on Thursday, after TOI reported that 400 flamingos had been killed here in the past 10 days because they came in contact with the cables. Principal secretary for forests and environment SK Nanda told TOI, “Getco will have to complete the work by September next year, before a new batch of flamingos arrives.” He has also asked senior forest officers to identify other such sites in the state where the birds may be in danger. “We will ensure the cables are laid underground at all sites used by the flamingos.” The officials have already identified an eight km stretch in Khadir where the maximum birds have been killed. TOI had reported on Thursday that the maximum number of birds may have been killed at night. They may have been startled by a passing vehicle or by the attack of a predatory bird and, in panic, flown straight into the high tension cables which may be difficult to see in the dark. On Thursday, Gujarat principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) S K Goyal held a series of meetings with Getco officials to find ways to immediately reduce the ‘bird-hits’. Surinder Kumar Negi, Getco’s managing director, said, “We are sending a team of experts to the area to find a solution.” Till the cables are put underground, Getco will cover them with reflector tape which will shine at night and hopefully keep the birds at bay. In June this year, a large number of flamingos were killed in similar fashion in Bhavnagar and had become easy fodder for stray dogs. FLAMINGO DEATHS Killer power lines were upgraded in March ’11 Shorter, Low Transmission Wires Had Earlier Offered Some Safety To Birds Ahmedabad: The high voltage power lines which killed 400 flamingos at Khadir in Kutch had become operational in March this year. The line supplies electricity to 12 villages of Amrapar area in Rapar along the Indo-Pakistan border and also to Dholavira, an ancient Harappan site. This is the first flamingo season after the power lines were commissioned. In the past, low power transmission lines that were much shorter passed through this belt. These power lines were strung on wooden make-shift poles. Forest officials said the height of the low power lines ensured that no major tragedy ever took place in the past. But after the 11 KV lines were upgraded, it was substituted with very high tension wires and the height at which the wires were installed were also a major concern. Surinder Kumar Negi, managing director of GETCO said: “Earlier the power lines were 11 KV lines. Since there were complaints about erratic power supply and also low voltage, a 66 KV sub station was introduced in Amrapar for adequate supply of power.” He said that the people of the villages were suffering from power fluctuations and cuts for the past one decade, and hence the conversion to a high power sub station had ensured good power supply to the area. Negi also says there are no incidents of birds colliding with power lines in the day time. “Most of the incidents take place in the night when visibility is poor. There is a possibility that the headlight of a speeding car passing from the area could have startled the birds into flight. Unable to see power lines, the birds must have flew into the power lines,” he said. The forest department has now erected scare crows and posted some personnel on the spot to keep a watch during the night. “Presence of forest guards and the scare crows have had the desired effect. We have largely been able to prevent the birds from getting close to the wires,” said the official.