Cutting of trees in Ranthambore​ hits waterhole construction

JAIPUR: The work for constructing a waterhole at Tamakhanna area of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) has been stopped following controversies, including one over chopping of 40 trees in the forest area for the project.

Located between RTR’s zone number 4 and 5, the construction near Tamakhanna came to a grinding halt after it was reported that trees were being chopped off and the construction work was adversely affecting the wildlife in the periphery.

Initial reports suggested that at least 50 tress were chopped to carve space for construction of a water hole which was sanctioned by the forest department in 2016.

The zone where the construction had begun is frequented by several big cats many times a day. Sources claimed that the noise of construction due to deployment of heavy machinery, including earth movers, has rattled tigress of the particular territory.

Also, the work was stopped as the administration feared that tigers might attack the labourers. According to sources, one tigress walked very close to the area where labourers were working for the water hole. “Many labourers had a close save after the tigress ‘Lighting’ walked past them. A major mishap was thankfully averted,” added a source.

Sources added the forest area around Tammakhanna is frequented by three tigress. “Along with the movement of male T-86 everyday, tigresses ‘Arrowhead’ and ‘Lighting” are also frequent visitors here,” said the source.

Assistant conservator of forest, Ranthambhore National Park, Mukesh Saini said, “Work to construct the waterhole, as proposed earlier, was going on but directions have now been given to stop the work.”

Green activists alleged that the forest’s green cover was already decreasing at a rapid rate and felling old trees for construction in forest is an offence. Several plantation schemes during the past 10 years - be it the ‘Harit Rajasthan’ or the drive to plant as many as 25 lakh trees in the state over 61,000-hectares of forest land have been just numbers on paper. Same is the fate of 1.3 crore saplings that were distributed to the common man for plantation. The latest 15th forest cover assessment by the FSI reveals all that has increased in Rajasthan is the scrub cover, which grows by itself anyways.

Babu Lal Jaju, state coordinator, People for Animals (PFA) said, “At a time when there is scarcity of rainfall in all the tiger reserve, the administration is chopping trees. The water hole should have been constructed in an area that was having lesser trees. Moreover, trees near the water hole could prevent evaporation.”