--- title: "SC orders nationwide survey on obstacles to elephant corridors" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/sc-survey-obstacles-elephant-corridors-a9dnu publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-18T10:08:01.358Z modified: 2026-08-18T12:30:05.656Z language: en-IN --- # SC orders nationwide survey on obstacles to elephant corridors India’s top court directed a nationwide survey to check for obstacles in elephant corridors, as a Congress leader accused mining and other projects of destroying habitats. The bench warned states against blocking wildlife paths and demanded a six-week Centre report. ## Key takeaways - The Supreme Court directed a nationwide survey to identify obstacles in elephant corridors. - States cannot block elephant pathways, and the use of fireballs or torches to deter elephants is barred. - Centre must submit a comprehensive six-week report detailing initiatives to prevent obstructions and the status of deterrent actions. ## What Happened A bench of the Supreme Court of India directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to conduct a nationwide survey to determine whether any state has constructed obstacles or blockades in elephant corridors. The court stressed that there cannot be any impediments in elephant pathways, even as crops are affected by elephant movement. It also barred the use of fireballs or mashaals (torches) to chase elephants and asked state authorities to implement existing guidelines to ensure unobstructed corridors. The Centre was ordered to submit a comprehensive report within six weeks outlining actions taken to prevent such obstructions and the status of any coercive measures against wildlife. Reacting to the development, Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh said elephant habitats and corridors are being systematically destroyed by mining and other projects, and that the will to protect and preserve is absent. He noted that surveys exist but asserted the destruction is ongoing. The remarks followed the Supreme Court’s directions and came as a bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, underscored that states cannot block wildlife routes to protect crops or livelihoods. The court also highlighted examples of how elephants travel across regions—mentioning West Bengal, Jharkhand, and cross-border movements from Nepal—with references to practices such as the use of fireballs and spikes in West Bengal. The bench indicated that the status report should include the Centre’s initiatives and the steps taken to prevent obstructions, as well as the position on the use of coercive actions against wildlife. It directed the government to present the survey results and recommendations within the specified timeframe. ## Why It Matters The court’s directive aims to safeguard elephant corridors that enable long-distance migrations, with an emphasis on maintaining uninterrupted wildlife routes in the face of development pressures. By mandating a nationwide survey and barring obstructive practices, the judiciary seeks to align state actions with existing environment guidelines and protect both wildlife and adjacent human livelihoods that depend on crops and grazing areas. Jairam Ramesh’s comments frame the issue as a trend of habitat and corridor destruction tied to mining and related projects, underscoring political and policy attention toward the need for stronger protections and enforcement of corridor norms, alongside transparent reporting on preventive measures. ## Background The Supreme Court’s directions come after earlier guidelines from the environment ministry intended to ensure seamless and unobstructed elephant corridors. The case references ongoing concerns about how local actions and developments may impede elephant movement, which is a known factor in wildlife management across multiple states and regions in the country. ## Key Facts - Jairam Ramesh is a Congress leader and former Environment Minister who spoke on August 18, 2026. - The Supreme Court bench comprised Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. - The Court directed the MoEFCC to conduct a nationwide survey to check for obstacles or blockades in elephant corridors. - The Court stated there cannot be obstacles in elephant corridors and that elephants travel long distances across states. - States were reminded that using fireballs or mashaals to deter elephants is not acceptable, and guidelines exist to prevent obstructions. - The Centre must submit a comprehensive report within six weeks, detailing initiatives and steps to prevent obstructions. - The remarks followed a court directive issued on August 18, 2026, in response to concerns about corridor obstruction. ## What Happens Next The Centre is to provide a six-week report outlining survey results, initiatives underway, and steps to prevent corridor obstructions, including the status of any policies governing deterrent actions against wildlife. State authorities are expected to adhere to guidelines ensuring unobstructed elephant corridors as per the court’s directions. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/sc-survey-obstacles-elephant-corridors-a9dnu Reported from: Multiple Sources