HOSUR: The Forest Department has proposed to beautify 16 lakes at a cost of Rs. 1.46 crore in Krishnagiri district, under the National Wetland Conservation Programme. The programme was drawn up essentially to protect the flora and fauna of water bodies in the district.
The proposal has been sent to the State Wildlife Warden in Chennai, to be forwarded to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Central government.
A.K. Ulaganathan, District Forest Officer, told The Hindu that the Hosur Forest Division's proposal would offer services such as flood water storage and control, recharge of aquifers, treatment of waste water, general water quality improvement, creating separate habitats for fish, wildlife as well as several other animals and plant species in these water bodies.
The proposal, for the year 2011-12, was prepared keeping in mind the invaluable benefits of the wetlands that offered several tangible and intangible benefits to the environment and the human population, Mr Ulaganathan added.
The water bodies were identified in Denkanikottai, Hosur, Krishnagiri and Uthangarai taluks in the district.
The lakes which would come under the beautification programme were Ramanaicken Eri, Dharga Eri, Thoddaseruvu Eri (Alasanatham lake), Therpet Eri, Thimmsandiram Eri, Namaleri, Eni Muchathiram Eri, Marasandiram Eri, Singarapettai Periya Eri, Marampatti Eri (Singarapettai), Avathanapatti Eri, Parur Eri,Thimmapuram Eri, Onnamma Eri, Thaly Perigoundan Eri and Veerarajan Eri (Devaganapalli).
The combined area of these lakes was 1191 hectares, of which 393 hectares were under the water spread.
The water bodies had abundant organic and inorganic nutrients and were a perfect feeding and spawning ground for fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic life forms.
The Forest Department's proposal comprises removal of silt, creating walk paths and benches along the bunds.
The Forest Department would also plant varieties of trees around the water bodies. For this purpose, an exclusive Wetland Conservation Committee (WCC), under a public-private partnership agreement, would be formed, it is learnt.
No comments:
Post a Comment