By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Even as the government of Odisha is hosting a two day biz event Advantage Angul beginning May 9 in Angul Aluminium Park to showcase the district's potentialities in different sectors including eco tourism, the rare species in Satkosia Wildlife sanctuary are virtually dying for a few drops of water.
Most of the ponds dug up at different places inside the sanctuary have gone dry due to severe heat wave condition. The officials, it is alleged are never bothered to fill up the ponds with water. There are grave allegations that the local wildlife officials have failed to make adequate provision for water for the wildlife species although the government has sanctioned enough money to take necessary steps in this regard.
Reports said the nullahs and rivulets in Purunakote, Burti, Uddhab and Baniajora which are natural sources of water for the species in Satakosia wildlife sanctuary throughout the year have gone dry due to scorching sun this year.
It is interesting that the advertisement in different media outlets in Odisha on Advantage Angul, being organized by the district administration, emphasizes that Satkosia Nature Camp in Angul is one of the major tourist destinations in Odisha, but the irony is that endangered species in Satkoisa are dying for water.
The villagers in Pokatunga, Nuakheta, Dhokuta and other regions have alleged that deer and elephants, mostly tuskers, have intruded into human habitation to get a few drops of water for survival. They alleged that this phenomenon has further escalated Elephant-Man tussle as tuskers have gone on a rampaging spree. People in Nuakheta, Taras, Bargaunia, Dhokuta, Bantala, Pokatunga and Sarangpur region have alleged that they are living in a state of panic as tuskers and other ferocious wildlife species might attack them at the dead of night which are prowling the areas for search of water and food.
Environmentalists and nature lovers in Angul district said the two day business event to invite investment in the industrial sector in Angul district is most welcome, but the environment and ecosystem of Angul, which is one of the major industrial hotspots of Odisha, must be given due weightage.
They said that it is high time that the wildlife wing and Odisha government must work in close liaison for a thriving ecosystem in Satkosia which is one of India's top bio reserves. Efforts must be initiated before a number of rare wildlife species in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary are extinct due to severe shortage of water and the Advantage Angul on Satkosia Nature Camp remains a misnomer only, the nature lovers added wryly.
