As the water bodies are drying up in the Kuldiha Sanctuary, the Wildlife Division of Baleswar has taken an initiative to protect these water resources apprehending that this year’s summer could be longer and tougher.
Besides creating new structures to cater to the need of the wildlife, the department has begun reviving the existing water bodies. In addition to about 20 natural spring sources, there are 52 water bodies (tanks) of which 12 have gone dry.
The department has begun de-silting the tanks and creating vats near the water bodies, lifting water through motors and transferring it to the vats through tankers. It has sent a list of proposals with an estimated expenditure to the Government.
“Out of the 12 tanks which were dry, six of them have been dug and concrete vats (containers) have been made near them. For de-silting and digging, an expenditure of nearly Rs 65,000 is made. As soon as the fund comes, revival of all the dry tanks would be executed in war footing,” Divisional Forest Officer Harshbardhan Udgata said, adding that water near spring sources is being revived by deepening and constructing water pits.
“Further, we have a plan to set up bore-wells at least at three places in the sanctuary. From the bore-wells, we would be drawing water through motors and further ferry it through tankers. The tanks near the forest roads would be filled through the tankers. The bore-wells would suffice the water requirement. The tankers would be hired. These proposals have been sent to the department,” said Udgata.