Not just the linear intrusions or infrastructure projects but drought is yet another reason for rising man-animal conflicts. Shortage of water and food are driving wild life to human landscapes.
Experts from drought affected State of Maharashtra have demanded an amendment in Government Resolution (GR) of 1997 by irrigation department, for securing a share for “wildlife” in the water reserved for “drinking” purpose.
They have also called for an action from Agriculture department to review the “dead stock” of streams and impose ban on “stream based irrigation” in forested landscape during the peak summer beyond the “dead stock”.
The present drought in some parts of Maharashtra has affected wildlife, with increasing reports of wild animals falling in abandoned wells, irrigation canals etc. Hence, along with humans, it is essential to ensure drinking water supply to wildlife in Maharashtra to reduce incidents of human-wildlife conflict due to the adverse impact of drought, pointed out Kishor Rithe, Member, National Board for wildlife who also represents the Maharashtra State Board For Wildlife.
With the condition of drought reaching an alarming state, Rithe has written to the Chief-Minister pointing out that the Government resolution dated July 30, 1997 issued by irrigation department of Gover nment of Maharashtra was specially issued to address the urgent need of “drinking usage”.
The GR had fixed priority as well as percentage water use as- drinking purpose (15% of total reservoir water), Industry (10%) and irrigation (remaining water) respectively. “However, the said GR has a flaw and only considered drinking usage by human population and not given any consideration to wildlife populations, resulting inhuman-wildlife conflict in the state”, Rithe pointed out in the letter.
Dr Pramod Patil, conservationist from Maharashtra further added that construction of reservoirs on river/streams particularly in forested landscape actually change the hydrology of the area. The water which would be uniformly distributed in the area get accumulated in the reservoir. This changes water distribution in the submerged area of the landscape.
During summer the water table in reservoirs depletes very fast and irrigation department only stops at the dead stock. “Wildlife populations get concentrated around these reservoirs and their prey-predator ratio gets affected during this pinch period. Many wild animals migrate towards nearby villages due to frequent movements of carnivores around reservoir,” Rithe pointed out.
Suggesting measures, experts have called for maintaining the regular flow of the river/ stream on which the reservoir is constructed specially from October onwards. The GR should specifically mention for drinking purpose 15% of total reservoir water “to wildlife by maintaining original flow of stream”, he added.