Chennai: Conservation goes digital in Greater Chennai. Irked over the frequent theft of bill boards and warning posts put up by foresters in Pallikaranai bird sanctuary, the department has installed digital LED board displaying the migratory birds and the statutory warning for miscreants polluting Pallikaranai marshland (PML).
According to bird watchers now visiting Pallikaranai, a lot of welcome change is happening to PML and for the first time anti-poaching watchers are deployed to prevent poaching of birds and to protect the marsh from encroachers the forest department is also serving notices to demolish illegal buildings.
“The attractive big sized LED board that glows during night also warn about the fine that will be imposed against those dumping garbage or draining sewer into Pallikaranai marshland,” said V. Karunapriya, conservator of forests, Chennai. There were complaints of sewer being drained in to marsh and to curtail pollution new foresters and anti-poaching watchers have been deployed. The department had also started fining those polluting the wetland. The public response towards LED board is positive and soon there may be another giant size LED board greeting the public and warning the violators under forest conservation act, the top official added. “Usually only tiger reserves enjoy the status of having anti-poaching watchers (APWs) and now Pallikaranai being conferred the young force will help to prevent poaching of migratory birds,” said K. V. R. K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.
The regular patrolling of APW’s through bicycle will also increase the surveillance in forest areas and also reduce the illegal activities in and around Pallikaranai, Thirunaranan added. As a next step the foresters can also update the specific information about migratory birds and the species that visit PML and this will encourage children to learn more about birds and their habitat, said wildlife enthusiast N. Balaji, who frequents PML.
