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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Water lifeline revives Bharatpur after 10 years -Palak Nandi

Water lifeline revives Bharatpur after 10 years -Palak Nandi

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published Published on Oct 8, 2012   modified Modified on Oct 8, 2012
-The Times of India

JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: After battling water shortages for 10 long years, Bharatpur is again ready to host winged visitors in numbers not seen in the bird sanctuary since the 1990s. Water from the Goverdhan drain reached the park last week, promising a permanent solution to the water woes of Keoladeo Ghana National Park.

The Goverdhan project, which became functional last Friday, uses a 17.4km pipeline to pump Yamuna flood waters from a reservoir on the Haryana-Rajasthan border to the park. The Rs 56-crore project was expected to kick off in 2009 but was delayed due to re-tendering and other formalities.

"The quality of water from Goverdhan drain is good. It even has fish. I haven't seen so much water in the sanctuary in the past 15 years," said Abhishek Bhatnagar, who heads a WWF project at Bharatpur.

As a result of plentiful water, park authorities are expecting a record turnout of migratory birds this the winter. Birds have already started flocking to the world heritage site, with painted storks, spoonbills, large and little cormorants, Indian darters, egrets, herons and saras cranes seen in the park.

Goverdhan drain ends water woes

Bharatpur is again ready to host birds as it received water from the Goverdhan drain.

"Many monsoon breeding birds have flown in to the park this year and we expect a large number of migratory birds this winter. The current water availability should support the growth of enough vegetation for all birds that come here this winter," said the park's field director, Khyati Mathur.

Bhatnagar said the park's troubles began in 2003, when the height of the Panchna dam on the Gambhiri river was raised from 253 metres to 258m, which effectively left no water for the sanctuary. Severe water shortage over the years has kept many migratory birds away from the park. The last three years were particularly bad for the park.

The maximum water capacity of the park is around 550-600 million cubic feet (mcft), of which 350 mcft is expected to be supplied by the Goverdhan drain each year. The park has also received close to 65 mcft water through the Chambal drinking water project. Though it is primarily a PHED project for Bharatpur and Dholpur, but given the crisis at the park, some water was diverted to it. Another 50 mcft was received from the Ajam Dam.

"The breeding birds at the sanctuary are a sight for sore eyes. It's been some time since the population of birds here was so good at this time of the year. The plentiful water will ensure a wonderful winter season, which will begin in early November," said Rakesh Fojdar, secretary of the Ghana Bachao Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti. 

The Times of India, 8 October, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Water-lifeline-revives-Bharatpur-after-10-years/articleshow/16718396.cms


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