Artificial water holes set up for quenching thirst of animals at Rajaji Tiger Reserve
HARIDWAR: In an initiative to provide drinking water to animals inside the forest area within Rajaji Tiger Reserve, artificial water holes have been made this summer season, park officials said.
In all the 10 ranges of the reserve, artificial water reservoirs have been constructed
According to park officials, most of the water holes were dug ahead of summer season and are recently being filled with water from water tankers.
“With advent of summer season itself these water holes were dug and have been filled with water. Five large water holes have been constructed catering to the water requirement of animals like elephant and tiger. Monitoring of water level is also being done so as to replenish them with water from time to time,” said range officer, Motichur range, Mahesh Semwal.
Impact of these water holes is already visible according to the forest patrolling team personnel.
Along with elephants, other animals are also being seen drinking and bathing in the stagnant water holes these days.
It has helped negate movement of the animals near human habitat-highway stretch.
“Erecting water holes is a good step in providing water availability to wild animals inside the park itself. Elephants were reported to be seen near residential habitat and border area of Rajaji Tiger Reserve in past few months which has gone down now. Such measures need to be implemented in other areas too where wild animals intrude into residential habitat often,” said assistant professor, department of Environment science, Gurukul Kangri University Dr Gagan Matta.
Meanwhile, on the instructions of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state health department has issued a comprehensive advisory for all government and private hospitals in the state to ensure fire safety in hospitals during the summer months.
Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Health Secretary, issued a fire safety advisory, emphasising the collective responsibility of hospital management, staff and regulatory bodies.
He said, “It is necessary that we take proactive steps to prevent disastrous incidents.”
The advisory by the Uttarakhand health department also highlights the importance of following the “Guidelines for Fire Safety in Health Facilities” issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. All hospitals have been asked to strictly follow these guidelines.