Forest Department Aims To Develop Water Sources For Wildlife

Karimnagar:The forest department has begun an attempt to provide water for wildlife in view of the drought conditions in the state. Apart from developing new water sources, officials said they would fill existing saucer pits in forest areas.

Although providing water in forests during summer is a routine practice, officials claim they began the preparations earlier this year. Most existing water sources, including tanks, ponds and rivulets, have dried up due to deficient rainfall. The situation could worsen in the coming months due to the expected super El Nino effect, officials said.

Officials anticipate a severe water shortage in forest areas during the next summer. Wild animals could venture out of forests in search of water as sources inside the forests dry up. Such movement can lead to incidents of wild animals attacking both cattle and people in villages adjoining the forests.

To address the problem, the Sircilla forest department has prepared plans to develop additional water sources in the Sircilla, Chandurthy and Mallial forest ranges.

The proposed works include 113 percolation tanks, 38 check dams, 440 Rockfill Dams (RFDs), 73 mini percolation tanks, three chelimas and 16 saucer pits. The three ranges already have 83 percolation tanks, 33 check dams, 190 RFDs, 63 mini percolation tanks, three chelimas and 16 saucer pits.

District forest officer Satyanarayana recently visited the Nimmapalli and Konaraopet forest areas in Konaraopet mandal and inspected sites identified for developing water ponds.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Satyanarayana said water sources in forest areas were declining due to deficient rainfall, leaving wild animals, birds and other living beings facing water shortages.

He said additional water sources would be developed alongside the existing ones to address the problem. “Water is usually filled in saucer pits during April and May, but officials would have to begin the exercise earlier this summer.”