Forest dept sets up water tanks at Sirumugai range

Coimbatore: With days getting hotter and water sources drying up in the district’s forest ranges, there are chances of wild animals straying into human settlements in search of water and food. To check such incidents, officials of the Sirumugai forest range near the city are constructing artificial ponds and filling water troughs on the forest fringes.
The officials have hired water tankers to fill the troughs and ponds in the range, while some of the ponds are filled using water from borewells. “We fill the pond near Odanthurai using water tankers. Ponds at Vilvamara Kuttai are filled using water from borewells,” forest range officer of Sirumugai range EN Manoharan told TOI.

The artificial ponds and water troughs were set up in the range two years ago. The range officials are planning to build an artificial pond near the Western Ghats, the official said. “We will construct the pond near a river so that river water can be used to fill the pond. It will be ready within 10 days.”

“Elephants and deer usually travel to the Bhavanisagar Dam area during the summer in search of water. Artificial water sources will benefit the other animals left in the forest,” Manoharan said.

Meanwhile, officials taking care of the Boluvampatti forest range said as the range had abundant water sources as it was near the Siruvani, there was enough water for wild animals.