Water tanks for blackbucks in Odisha

With mercury level soaring, Odisha government has decided to build at least six water tanks in the blackbuck habitat areas under Aska and Buguda forest ranges in Ganjam district to help the majestic animals beat the heat.
The small ponds would be dug under the compensatory afforestation programme with each tank costing around Rs 2.50 lakh, officials said today.
Aska and Buguda areas in the district are considered to be one of the biggest habitats of the black bucks in the country.
According to the census conducted in July 2011, there were 2,181 black bucks in Aska, Buguda, Polasara, Khallikote and Berhampur forest ranges in the district as compared to 1,672 in 2008.

The endangered animals, however, face much difficulty in quenching their thirst when several existing ponds in the area drie up due to the heat.
"We have already started the work for the three water bodies in the thick blackbuck populated areas", said forest range officer of Aska S K Nanda.

Similarly, his counterpart at Buguda, Buguda PK Sahu said they have identified the locations for the new ponds. The work would be started soon.
He said the forest department had renovated the existing ponds, while some ponds have been filed with water from the nearby Baghua reservoir.
Chief wildlife warden S S Srivastav has issued instruction to the divisional forest officers to fill the dried tanks in the wildlife habitats with the tankers, so that the wild animals would not face water shortage.

Forest officials said they have also taken up a programme to cultivate grass for the blackbucks and to minimize crop damage by them.
"We have selected around 9 acres of lands of two persons in Vetanai area for cultivation of grass for the blackbuck. The land owners have agreed", said president of Ganjam district blackbuck protection committee.