Forest Department Promotes CSR Activities
Forest Department installs solar-powered water sources to reduce wildlife straying into villages
Anantapur: Using CSR funds, the forest department is promoting activities to protect wild cats and other animals by providing them water sources in deep reserved forests through solar pump sets round-the-clock.
This is in view of threats from wild animals, mainly leopards, frequenting residential areas even in urban areas of Rayalaseema region.
The setting up of solar pumps in deep forests wouldn’t disturb the habitat of wild animals, mainly leopards and bears, and help avoid their entry into human habitations.
Ananatapur DFO Chakrapani initiated efforts to drill a borewell in the deep reserve forest of Hottebetta in Rolla mandal of Satya Sai district, and provided power through solar sets to pump water to the deep pit. Water is pumped round-the-clock by using solar energy without harming the animals in the forest.
An organisation came forward and spent money to drill a borewell and install a solar pump system to provide drinking water for the animals in the deep forest.
“The bore well is pumping water to an adjacent water pond when sunlight is available and animals can have enough drinking water and can move around freely,” Chakrapani told Deccan Chronicle.
He said, “Seeking CSR funds of companies to enable them to be a part of protecting nature at various locations is of help in this respect, as the project in Hottebetta forest was successful.”
Notably, at least 5 leopards entered human habitations, including the Rayadurg and Madakasira municipal areas, during the past few years due to lack of food and water in the forests. Three of them were hit by vehicles on main roads.
In addition, the wild cats normally dominate their jurisdictions and never allow another male into the habitat.
During the recent census, the forest department and teams noticed more than 20 leopards present in the Anantapur and Satya Sai districts. However, the number of spotted deer and black bucks were increasing in the plain lands of Adoni, Mantralayam and Kodumur of Kurnool district and the border areas of Madakasira, Hindupur and other parts of Anantapur district.
More than 17,000 spotted deer and black bucks are estimated to be present in Rayalaseema region.
