Post Fani, Odisha Forest dept sets eye on safety of deer, blackbucks

Bhubaneswar: Following the devastation caused by cyclone Fani, Odisha Forest department is now planning to make special arrangements for the safety of spotted deer in Balukhand sanctuary and blackbucks in Aska reserve forest in Ganjam.

As per the plan, the Forest department will set up shades for the spotted deer in Balukhand sanctuary. Moreover, the water bodies in the sanctuary will be manually filled up by water tankers till monsoon. This apart, drones will be used to track the location of the animal.

Similarly, the Forest department is planning to acquire 50 acre land and convert it into grazing ground for the blackbucks in Aska reserve forest.

The project will be implemented on one acre of land on a pilot basis and will be expanded later.

"Artificial water bodies are being created to provide water and concentrated food is being given to deer in Balukhand," informed Ajay Kumar Mohapatra, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF).

Temporary shades have been created and the restoration work is underway, Mohapatra added.

Moreover, plantation will be done in Balukhand sanctuary, while land will be acquired for creating a food source of the blackbucks in Aska, the PCCF added.