Wild life activists and protectors of blackbucks in Bhetanai area of Ganjam district in Odisha are worried about proposal to set up large electrical sub-station in the region.
They feel this electrical sub-station would be too detrimental for the habitat of endangered blackbuck populace in Bhetanai region. Blackbuck Protection Committee (BPC) of Ganjam district has already approached the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Odisha and Ganjam district administration regarding it. Through letters to them, president of BPC, Amulya Upadhyay, who also happens to be a member of State Wildlife Board has described how this electrical sub-station will have negative impact on lives and habitat of blackbucks that dwell in Bhetanai region. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Amulya said: “Authorities should realize that it would be easy to shift the location of proposed electrical substation but they cannot shift the preferred dwelling place of endangered blackbucks”.
The proposed electrical sub-station has been planned up to come up on a patch open space on outskirts of Bhetanai. As per revenue records this patch of 27 acres of land is grazing ground of domestic animals. As per the proposal around 12 acres of this grazing ground is to be used for the proposed electrical sub-station. According to Krushna Chandra Gouda, a member of BPC, around 500 blackbucks dwell near Bhetanai. Blackbucks prefer to dwell in open spaces instead of dense jungle, so this grazing ground continues to be their major dwelling place. Inhabitants of Bhetanai due to their traditional religious belief continue to protect these endangered antelopes.
As per the BPC, if the electrical sub-station comes up in this area, it would destroy the environment of this open space making it unsuitable for the blackbucks. Light pollution caused by the sub-station would also affect the blackbucks as they are shy animals, said Mr Amulya. Any major construction in this area like the electrical sub-station will surely attract industrial activity in the region that would make blackbucks shy away from Bhetanai region, said Mr Gouda.
Endangered blackbucks inhabit jungles near around 70 villages in the four forest ranges of Ganjam district namely of Aska, Buguda, Polasara and Khallikote. Blackbuck population is continuously on the rise in Ganjam district. A major reason behind it is attitude of locals towards them. Villagers in this region consider blackbucks as harbinger of rain. Due to traditional beliefs they consider blackbucks as representatives of Lord Vishnu and do not harm them. Blackbucks roam around freely near the human habitats like Bhetanai. Added to it there are no major predators to kill these animals in Ganjam district.
At times only a few pregnant blackbucks fall prey to wild dogs as they cannot run fast.
