Gabion Walls Shield 7 Small Islands at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

BENGALURU: 7 small islands at Ranganathittu Birds’ Sanctuary under constant threat of soil erosion or washed away from heavy discharge of water from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir (KRS) located upstream of about 10-km from the sanctuary in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya, now, have Gabion Wall shield to protect them against flooding. There are 26 small islands at the sanctuary and 7 identified small islands more prone to damages from floods were taken-up for the Gabion Wall construction.

To take-up Gabion Walls, officials of the sanctuary did an experiment and placed stones around one of the small islands. The idea worked and it was observed that the stones on the borders of one of the small islands checked soil erosion when there was excess discharge of water from the reservoir. Buoyed by the success, officials considered taking it up in a big way.

Earlier, the borders of small islands were covered with sand bags which did not succeed in soil erosion. Crocodiles at the sanctuary used to bask at the small islands and their sharp claws used to climb these islands and damaged the sandbags placed at the borders of these small islands or brought them down. During July-August when the reservoir is full to its capacity, Bird Sanctuary reports flooding.

Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mysuru Wildlife Division Prabhugouda Patil told Deccan Chronicle on Monday National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), as part of wildlife mitigation measure, funded the construction of Gabion Wall construction since they have taken-up construction Kushalanagar-Bengaluru Highway close to the sanctuary. The Highway is about a km away from the sanctuary and Gabion Wall construction was suggested to NHAI officials by Mysuru Wildlife Division officials among many others.

“These Gabion Walls last about 40 years,” said the DCF and stated “The roots of trees at the islands will remain intact.”

Prabhu Gouda Patil expressed satisfaction over the works and stated “The Gabion Walls have added to the natural beauty of the sanctuary.”