Uppalapadu tank works get forest clearance

P. SAMUEL JONATHAN

CC road will be laid from main road to bird sanctuary

Avian paradise: Pelicans soaring at the Uppalapadu bird
sanctuary in Guntur district.— Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

The Forest Department has given the nod for undertaking developmental works at Uppalapadu tank, the famed breeding place for migratory birds. District Forest Officer S.K Salaam told The Hindu that the Forest Department has given financial clearance to undertake works at a cost of Rs 17.28 lakh.

The works including laying of a CC road from the main road to the bird sanctuary, afforestation, strengthening of tank bund, removal of water hyacinth and appointment of watch and ward staff at the sanctuary.

The Eco Development Committee, which is yet to be constituted, would be undertaking the works.

The works would start once the department gets funding.

The action plan was part of a major scheme for development of the sanctuary at a cost of Rs.2 crore, with which the Department has plans to take up construction works, setting up of cafeteria and establishing an eco-tourism centre.

The nondescript village would soon get a face lift.

Water contamination

The district administration has already pledged to lay a pipe line at a cost of Rs.35 lakh and part of the funds would be drawn from MPLADS. For years, villagers have been voicing their concerns over the contamination of water in the village tank due to the presence of a large number of migratory birds. Signs of a conflict between human beings and the birds endangering peaceful co-existence had appeared recently when villagers began felling giant trees abutting the water tanks that provided refuge to birds.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/uppalapadu-tank-works-get-forest-clearance/article4311586.ece

Threat of forest fires looms large

R. KRISHNA KUMAR

High temperature, depleting water-levels have compounded situation

• ‘We have burnt 10-metre patch of vegetation along the fire lines in Nagarahole’
• Wildlife activists dismayed that some critical posts are yet to be filled

Preventive measure:Vegetation being cleared along
the fire lines at Chamundi Hills in Mysore on Tuesday.

The threat of forest fires looms large over Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks even as the Forest Department is gearing up to combat one of the worst droughts in recent decades.

The soaring mercury level coupled with depleting water-levels has compounded the situation, and the possibility of animals straying into human habitations in search of food and water is likely in the days ahead. The severity of the fodder crisis this year has been amplified by the devastation wreaked by the major fire that reduced a vast swathe of Nagarahole to cinders last March.

R. Gokul, Conservator of Forests, and Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, told The Hindu that the Mysore portion of Nagarahole was dry though there was moisture and greenery in the Kodagu portion. “But most of the watering holes in the national park have run dry while a few water bodies around Kalahalla and Nagarahole range can at best last for another 45 days.”

Water tanks constructed

The authorities constructed a water tank in the Metikuppe range as it was found that elephant herds were straying from their natural habitat in search of water. “It has helped arrest the elephants’ movement and they have returned to the core forest areas,” Mr. Gokul said.

A tank will also be constructed in the Antharsanthe range which has a large elephant population.

However, Mr. Gokul said that construction of the tank had been taken up on an experimental basis. He said that three to four tanks could be constructed in Veeranahosahalli and Antharsanthe.

“But, this will not help all animals because the prey density in Nagarahole is 50 animals per sq km and the requirement of all the animals cannot be met through artificial means,” Mr. Gokul said.

He said: “We have burnt 10-metre patch of vegetation along the fire lines on either side of the game (safari) roads. This works out to about 1,700 hectares out of a total area of 64,300 hectares or 2.65 per cent of the total forest area.”

Meanwhile, wildlife activists are dismayed that in spite of the possibility of a crisis, some critical posts are yet to be filled, which could affect forest fire protection. Sources said there was no range officer in Metikuppe range, which bore the brunt of last year’s fire. The situation is similar at Veeranahosahalli, while the post of Director at Bandipur National Park is vacant. Activists also sought a ban on tourism during the ‘forest fire season’ as this could augment available resources such as staff and vehicles to combat forest fires. Responding to the suggestion, Mr. Gokul said there was no such proposal at present though they may take a call on it later.

In Bandipur, BRT

The scenario in Bandipur and BRT sanctuaries is similar.

D. Rajkumar of Wildlife Conservation Foundation expressed the fear that watering holes could go dry after 15 to 20 days. However, vegetation along the fire lines had been burnt and fire spotters had been hired, he said.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Mysore began clearing of vegetation along the fire lines at Chamundi Hills on Tuesday.


Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/threat-of-forest-fires-looms-large/article4311531.ece