Polavaram project poses threat to wildlife

Hyderabad, Oct. 31: The construction of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) project across river Godavari near Polavaram in West Godavari district poses threat to the existence of wildlife in the reserve forest area, especially depriving endangered species like tigers and panthers of their subsistence.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan study conducted by a private consultancy, Agricultural Finance Corporation Limited, on behalf of the irrigation department, the backwaters of Polavaram dam, once completed, will submerge 2,929.07 hectares of reserve forest, spreading across mostly Khammam (2,820.61 hectares), followed by 70.71 hectares in West Godavari and 37.75 acres in East Godavari. Another 293.08 hectares of reserve forest would have to be acquired for project and canal. Thus, a total of 3,223 hectares of reserve forest would disappear totally under the project.

This extent of reserve forest, according to the study, comprises wild animals in Bhadrachalam (South) and Paloncha area in Khammam, West Godavari and East Godavari areas. The fauna include tigers, panthers, leopards, gaur, neelgai, wild boars, sloth bears, hunting dogs, fox, spotted deer, bison and sambar, besides peacocks, imperial pigeons, quails, jungle fowls, spotted owlets and rare reptiles.
The study further says the backwaters of Polavaram will also submerge part of the Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary, which extends into Rekhapalli hill range reserve forest in Bhadrachalam (South) Division.

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/Deccan_Chronicle/400x60/0