Centre seeks report on death of elephants on railway tracks in Assam's Hojai: Bhupender Yadav
Gosaba (PTI): Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday said the Centre has sought a report on the death of elephants in a collision between a train and a herd of tuskers in Assam’s Hojai district a day ago.
Yadav, the environment, forest and climate change minister, also said all states have been asked to monitor elephant movement along the railway tracks.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting on Project Elephant and the National Tiger Conservation Authority in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, Yadav said, "The railway authorities have been directed to coordinate with the forest departments of states on elephant movement along the tracks. A report on elephant deaths in Assam has been sought."
He said coordination between train drivers and forest officials is essential.
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Eight elephants were killed after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam's Hojai district early on Saturday. Five coaches and the train's engine also derailed.
"The district magistrates have also been asked to keep forest departments updated on elephant movement along highways," the minister said.
"A team was formed with the DRM Railways, DFO and local people as stakeholders in the area concerned in Assam and in every such locality where elephant habitat and train lines exist," Yadav said.
He said there are 1,100 elephant accident zones or hotspots in the country, where such preventive measures were being taken.
The minister said Rs 112 crore has been allotted for the Sundarbans for the Tiger project in West Bengal and Rs 344 crore for elephants in the last five years.
"But these funds remained mostly unutilised, he alleged.
While the Sunderbans attracts 9.5 lakh tourists annually, the Ranthambore tiger reserve witnesses Rs 18-19 lakh.
"Such a beautiful zone of 2,500 sq km area with rich biodiversity, over 250 bird species, apart from big cats, deer and crocodile, hasn't been projected properly. There must be a balance between ecological concerns and development. This should be looked into by the state," he said.
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BJP slams Gehlot's 'Save Aravalli' campaign, assures mining will not expand under new definition
Jaipur (PTI): Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore on Sunday rejected former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's claim that the Union government's report redefining the Arvallis would destroy 90 per cent of the mountain range in the state, and claimed it lays down a stricter framework for its conservation.
The Supreme Court, on November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges.
According to the new definition, "Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above its local relief" and an "Aravalli Range is a collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other".
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However, Rathore noted that the 100-metre criterion is not limited to height alone.
"According to the court-approved definition, all hills of 100 metres or more, their slopes, and terrain within 500 metres between two hills remain outside the mining ambit irrespective of height. This framework is stricter and more scientific than before," he said at a press conference.
Calling Gehlot's claim "completely false and misleading", the former leader of opposition noted that approximately 25 per cent of the Aravalli area falls under wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and reserved forests where mining is completely prohibited.
"Only about 2.56 per cent of the notified Aravalli region is under limited and strictly regulated mining," he said.
Citing the Survey of India analysis, Rathore assured that mining will not expand under the new definition.
He claimed that 98.9 per cent of hilly areas in Rajsamand, 99.89 per cent in Udaipur, 89.4 per cent in Gujarat's Sabarkantha and 75.07 per cent in Haryana's Mahendragarh would remain prohibited for mining, apart from national parks, eco-sensitive zones, reserved and protected forests and wetlands.
Rathore said that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has also clarified that the Supreme Court order poses no threat to the Aravalli range and the Centre is committed to ensuring its complete protection.
He emphasised that the Supreme Court has clearly directed that no new mining leases can be issued till the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education completes detailed scientific mapping and prepares a sustainable mining management plan.
"In such a situation, speaking of Aravalli's destruction is nothing but an attempt to create fear," he said.
Additionally, Rathore targeted Gehlot's "Save Aravalli" social media campaign launched on December 18, saying that senior Congress leaders, including Govind Singh Dotasra, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sachin Pilot, did not support it by changing their profile pictures.
"When top party leaders themselves are not standing with this campaign, it is clear this is political posturing, not an environmental movement," he alleged.
