Mangaluru: Every day one or the other scheme is being implemented for the survival of tortoises, reptiles and wildlife. These have many benefits to the wild animals. And there is another major project that is likely to be added to this line which is the construction of U-shaped trenches under the railway tracks.
Many small and special animals can be saved by the construction of these U-shaped tubes in the middle of the forest, especially in the Western Ghats. Tortoises, snakes, crabs, lizards that migrate to other parts of the Western Ghats for breeding or for some other reason may reach their destination. During this time they normally get stuck under the trains while crossing the tracks and lose their lives. Due to this reason their mortality can be reduced if U-shaped trenches are constructed at the bottom of the railway tracks.
The project is already in place in foreign countries and many animals are crossing the railways without losing their lives.
Mangaluru Wildlife Activist Nagaraj Devadiga has already written to MoFFCC Minister Bhupendra Yadav in this regard, urging him to construct 139-km-long U-shaped trenches between Kabaka and Hassan near Puttur, which comes under the South Western Railway.
Speaking to News Karnataka, enviroynmentalist Dinesh Holla said, “It is a very good thing that the Railways is focusing on such sensitive issues and it is good that as much importance has been given to these turtles and reptiles as much as the big animals are given. The construction of this U-shaped moat is sure to save the lives of so many small wild animals,” he said.
