Check dam to maintain wetland for biodiversity preservation

In order to maintain wetland for preservation of biodiversity of animals and plants, a University has initiated steps to construct a check dam and a bio-park in its premises.
The check dam will help enhance water table of the drinking water facility to animals, especially elephants, which are frequent visitors to the varsity campus particularly during the summer, sources at Bharathiar University, located on the foothills of Maruthamalai coming under Western Ghats, said.
Besides, this would help nurture associated bio-park facilities, to be built in 50 acre land at a cost of Rs 25 lakh, to attract butterflies, honey bees for pollination to harvest honey for human use, they said.

Situated in a sprawling 1,000 acre of land, BU is in the neighbourhood of large water catchment area of the forest department.
Annual rainfall in the area is around 450 MM, with temperature varying between 17 degrees Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius.
The campus is rich with many endemic plants and assisted animals like elephants, tiger, deer, birds, butterflies, fox, bison, wild pig and peacock.
The university has also intitated steps to set up an Automated Weather Station with the help of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and these structures would definitely benefit students for their research and public, the sources said.