New Delhi: In a significant administrative development aimed at fortifying the ecological safeguards for India’s national heritage animal, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change has formally reconstituted the Steering Committee of Project Elephant.
This re-constitution, executed through an Office Memorandum dated January 7, 2026, signals a renewed moral urgency in addressing the systemic challenges of human-elephant conflict and habitat fragmentation.
Among the distinguished experts appointed to this high-level body is Shri Susant Nanda, IFS (R), of Odisha Cadre, whose inclusion underscores a socio-legal commitment to evidence-based wildlife governance.
Shri Susant Nanda, formerly the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife in Odisha, joins the Committee as a recognized Member at a critical juncture for conservation.
During his tenure in Odisha, a ture nature lover, Shri Nanda was instrumental in implementing rigorous protection protocols and layered causality assessments to mitigate elephant mortality. His appointment to the national Steering Committee reflects a strategic synthesis of field-level expertise and policy-driven conservation.
As Odisha continues to be a primary landscape for elephant populations, Shri Nanda’s role is expected to provide essential insights into the cross-sectoral coordination required between the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Power, and State Forest Administration to ensure safe passage for elephant herds.
The Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, is mandated to review the implementation of Project Elephant and provide technical guidance for a term of three years.
By integrating veteran IFS officer like Shri Susant Nanda alongside academic researchers and institutional heads, the Ministry aims to create a more resilient framework for elephant protection.
This institutional restructuring serves as a vital instrument in the ongoing effort to balance developmental imperatives with the non-negotiable necessity of preserving the biological integrity of India’s elephant corridors.