Forest cover goes up: Deer and Barasingha spotted near villages

PRAYAGRAJ: Five years of continuous efforts of Paryavaran Sena, an organization working for environment protection, with the help of district forest department has not only increased green cover but also augmented the strength of deer and Baransingha at Gokhari forest region (Lalganj) of Pratapgarh district.
However, officials of forest department after witnessing the good strength of deer and reindeer are mooting a proposal to make a Deer Sanctuary at Gokhari forest.
Senior assistant (forest department) Abhishek Singh said, “Once our sincere efforts have helped the department to increase the green cover, we are now mooting a proposal to make Deer Sanctuary. Measures have already been initiated in the same regard.”
Meanwhile, Ajay Krantikari, head of Paryavaran Sena told TOI, “With the increase of green cover in Gokhari forest, the strength of deer and reindeer has too increased and they can be easily spotted near villages of Dagrara, Udhranpur, Medhawa, Gorwa, Kalapur and adjoining areas.”
“Last week, a reindeer was spotted near Gokhari Mahamaya Dham road and later it went into the forest range area,” he added.
Krantikari, meanwhile, said, “Volunteers of organization, with the help of forest department are maintaining a strict watch and makinge fforts to increase the green cover.”
Krantikari was of the view that groups of deer and reindeer sometimes come out in open or village areas from forest due waterlogging and siltation during monsoon season. As these species usually move towards hilly areas in search of fodder and protection during monsoon season, they also move to open areas for breeding as well.
He, however, said, “Volunteers with the help of forest department had started sincere efforts to maintain ecological balance in Gokhari forest area about five years back. Their hard work has finally yielded fruitful results.”