Karnala birds have to drink ground water

The Karnala Bird Sanctuary has been forced to resort to use ground water for the drinking needs of its 147 species of birds and numerous other animals as the natural water bodies within the precincts of the sanctuary have dried up.

The sanctuary recently completed the work for 27 water saucers and two bore wells. Social activists and environmentalists have pointed out how the highly polluted Patalganga River that flows along the boundary of the sanctuary offered little respite to the water crisis.

S.K. Pawar, range forest officer of KBS, said the sanctuary had started the work for artificial water saucers, keeping in mind the usual scarcity of water.

“We started building the saucers in January-February and recently completed the work. The water holes are maintained with the help of two borewells built in the sanctuary which have been providing sufficient water till now. Pugmarks and sightings have confirmed that animals and birds have started drinking water from them,” said Mr Pawar.

Environmentalists pointed out that scarcity of water and unavailability of natural water bodies could have severely affected the biodiversity of the sanctuary. “Water is a bare essential. It has definitely become a question of survival for the birds and animals. Though the artificial water bodies cannot be a reliable substitute for a natural resource, it can play a vital role until monsoon,” said Nayan Khanolkar, naturalist and wildlife photographer. He added that if the water of Patalganga river was potable, some of the species could have temporarily migrated to the river body at such times of water scarcity.

According to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) data, the Turade station at Patalganga near the intake of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) water works has recorded severe water pollution. The data, which was collected last year in October, shows that the water has high levels of nitrate (46mg/l) harming its potability.

“The reason could be the effluents discharged from private industrial plants, MIDC, domestic waste and fishing activity,” MPCB’s report had mentioned.

Godfrey Pimenta from Watchdog Foundation visited the river body and sanctuary recently along with his colleagues and raised concerns over no action being taken by the MPCB in the matter. “Water of Patalganga river is highly unpalatable owing to high chemical content and industrial discharge of industries. The water isn’t even used for agricultural purposes. While there is an acute shortage of water across the state, MPCB or the river conservation programme needs to take necessary action to find solutions,” said Mr Pimenta.