Rajasthan to dig ponds in water-starved sanctuaries

JAIPUR - Rajasthan will construct small dams and ponds in its water-starved wildlife sanctuaries - a move that could also stop animals from straying into nearby villages in search of the precious resource.

“In the first phase we would spend Rs.410 million (Rs.41 crore) on the construction of 85 such waterbodies inside Sariska, Ranthambore and Sawai Mansingh sanctuaries,” a senior forest official told IANS.

“In the next phase, all other sanctuaries and parks would be covered under the scheme. A sum of Rs.3-4 billion (Rs.300-400 crore) is expected to be incurred on this,” he said.

The forest department would identify places where these water bodies are to be constructed and later the water resource department would construct them, the official said.

The water bodies are expected to be constructed by November.

India’s desert state boasts of two tiger projects, one bird sanctuary and 25 wildlife sanctuaries. These protected areas offer great eco-tourism opportunities for both domestic and foreign tourists.

With the rise in mercury levels, several small water reservoirs have become parched while others are on the brink of drying up. Though the forest department claims to have put a plan in place for proper water supply through tankers and tube wells, animal rights activists were not fully convinced.

“Some of the wildlife reserves and parks are facing an acute water shortage this summer,” said Babulal Jaju, the state in-charge of the NGO People for Animals (PFA).

He said the measures adopted by the state government have been few. “This plan of constructing anicuts and ponds is good, provided it is taken up seriously by the forest department,” Jaju said.

The situation is really bad in the Dara Wildlife Sanctuary near Kota in Rajasthan. The anicut and small ponds here have completely dried up, forcing wild animals to search for water in villages.

“This situation is really bad. We are now always in danger as wild animals, including panthers, have started coming to our villages in search of water,” said Nanuram, a resident of Laximipura village close to the Dara Wildlife Sanctuary area.

There has been a rise in cases of panthers straying into villages, he said. Recently a panther was beaten to death in Bhojipura village near here.

Similarly, incidents of bears straying into human habitations in Jalore district, in southwest Rajasthan, have shown an increase in the recent past.

The Keoladeo Bird sanctuary in Bharatpur, not far from Agra, is also facing a water crisis which has already taken its toll on the turnout of the winged migratory visitors.

The sanctuary was a favourite destination for a variety of rare birds from India and abroad. A large part of the water bodies in the sanctuary have turned into dry land. The entire area had been receiving scanty rainfall for the last couple of years.

(Anil Sharma can be contacted at anil.s@ians.in)