Waterholes go dry in Akola forest, wildlife lover smells a rat

Nagpur: After taking no action against illegal tree felling for road widening, the staff in the Akola forest division has once again been caught on the wrong foot. This time it is about not filling artificial waterholes meant for wildlife.
In a complaint, wildlife lover Sheikh Munna Sheikh, president, Sarpamitra Nisarga Savwardhan Bahuuddeshiya Sanstha, Akola, released pictures of four dry waterholes in Mahan beat under Barshitakli forest range.
“Pictures of these waterholes were taken on May 30 evening in compartment no. 398 with GPS locations. Even as summer is at its peak, not a single waterhole was filled, tus spelling doom for wild animals,” said Munna.
“With the arrival of monsoon, these waterholes will be filled naturally. A nexus between staff and contractor cannot be ruled out to claim fake bills towards wages and filling these waterholes by tankers,” said Munna.
“This is also one of the reasons why wild animals turn towards cities in search of water and end up causing conflict,” he said.
Akola deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Arjuna KR said, “We have been supplying water during the summer season to meet the requirement of wildlife in these waterholes. However, due to a lack of funds, we are unable to maintain waterholes daily. We have not yet released the bills of the contractor.”
“Despite Covid-19 restrictions, we are trying to ensure that water is available in these waterholes,” he said. The official also released a picture of a tanker filling waterhole on April 13, 2021, in Mahan beat.
Munna countered the official claims. “On May 26, it was Buddha Pournima when the staff is supposed to monitor animals approaching these waterholes. If these waterholes are being filled regularly, why there is not a single drop of water?” he said.