Water table has gone down by 10 metres from the average level
56 mandals in the district are likely tobe declared as drought-hit very soon due to less rainfall
Adilabad: The prolonged drought conditions have begun taking toll on the wild animals in Adilabad district. Shortage of drinking water in the forests has been forcing animals to stray into villages from nearest jungles and at times, it has been even costing their lives. Some animals are falling into wells and losing their lives while a few others have been falling prey to poachers and such incidents have been on the rise in the last one month. In some instances, people have also fallen victims and lost their lives.
Wild animals like bears, deer and Neelgai have been straying into villages from nearby forests due to drying of streams and rivulets in the forests due to the drought conditions. Poachers had erecting live electric wires and nets at water bodies and agriculture fields targeting the herbivores. However, the forest officials said they were taking all measures to provide drinking water to animals in the forest.
On November 24, a woman farmer, Ramelli Gangu, 70, suffered injuries on both her hands when a crude bomb planted in the fields by poachers targeting wild bear exploded at Kauta (B) village in Boath mandal.
On November 22, Kodra Mutya, 60, died after being attacked by a bear on the outskirts of the village in Jajulpet village in Kotapalli mandal. Later, the villagers also killed the bear which came in search of drinking water.
On November 20, Kadam forest staff arrested Sidam Raju and Maruti for killing a deer when it came to their fields in search of drinking water at Dasturabad Gondguda village in Kadam mandal.
According to official sources, the water table has gone down by 10 metres from the average level in 16 out of the 52 mandals in Adilabad district. There is acute shortage of drinking water in 200 villages in the district. In 2012, the ground water table was found at 5.18 metres from the ground, in 2013, it was found at 3.28 mts but this year, it is being found only at 6.28 metres from the ground level.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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