Rajasthan to Make Master Plan to Conserve Wildlife

The Rajasthan forest department will draft a master plan for conservation of wildlife as well as make a list of all endangered flora and fauna to take up conservation actions, an official said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state wildlife board Friday, chaired by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. This was the first meeting of the board in nine years.

The chief minister asked the forest officials to assess the present status of wildlife in the state and draft a master plan to conserve them. She also asked them to make a list of all endangered flora and fauna to take up conservation actions.

A special cattle vaccination programme in areas adjoining wildlife sanctuaries and national parks will be taken up to prevent outbreak of diseases. Toxic weeds that are affecting the flora and fauna in wildlife sanctuaries will be removed.

A time-bound plan will be made to bring water from Chiksana canal and Govardhan drain to Ghana bird sanctuary in Bharatpur. The park has long been facing acute water shortage. The government has decided to lay a 16 km pipeline from Govardhan drain to supply 350 million cubic feet (mcft) of water to Ghana.

The project will cost Rs.600 million. "About 350 mcft floodwater of Yamuna river flows into Uttar Pradesh through Govardhan drain. To bring this water to Ghana sanctuary, a 16 km long pipeline would be laid," a senior forest official said.

He said about 500 mcft water is required annually to maintain the Ghana sanctuary. The water from Yamuna will help to reduce the water crisis.

Many migratory birds had stopped visiting the sanctuary due to the water crisis. There has been little rainfall in the area in the last couple of years.

The meeting also discussed the provision for levying tax on hotels close to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, so that the proceeds can be used for development of the parks.

Source-IANS
SRM/N