SHRIKRISHNA HALDANKAR
CHORAO
Salim Ali bird sanctuary at Chorao is the only bird sanctuary in the State and is home to various species of birds. A number of bird lovers, both from the State and tourists frequent the sanctuary. Deputy Conservator of Forest Dr Anil Kumar informed that the bird sanctuary will be developed in two phases.
The first phase of development will be done in collaboration with ISRO. ISRO will study the gross productivities of the mangroves in the sanctuary, and total estimation will be done to improve the various type of mangroves in the sanctuary with the help of Forest Department and Department of Botany Goa University, Dr Anil Kumar said. The study which is in progress will be completed in 2017. Dr Kumar stated that the funding for the study will be done by ISRO once the estimate is prepared by his department.
Latest technology, such as Synthetic Apaches Radar Technology (SAR), will be used in this project. They will be using the set light technology to study the mangroves in the Mandovi River, Dr Kumar said.
At the second phase, the bird sanctuary at Chorao will be developed in collaboration with the Government of Germany and Goa Government.
The project aims to improve the status of the bird sanctuary, by adding interpretation facility of international standards. They will improve the facilities at the sanctuary for visitors, tourists, school children, by sprucing up boating, holding exhibitions, sign boards and other facilities for which the entire funding will be done by the German Government, Dr Kumar informed.
Beside Chorao Sanctuary the project plans to make the Chorao Farmers Club which is the registered association on the island to develop the farming activities, as a partner. The club aims to develop the khazan land with new technology to improve the paddy cultivation, and popularise the prawn and pissiculture in the village. Efforts towards this are under way from September 2014 onward on the island.
This study is supported by BITS Pilani, TERI, Goa State Bio-Diversity board and Centre for Environment Education and it will be completed in June 2017, Dr Kumar said. This project will provide the platform to develop the entire island on environment friendly basis.
Dr Kumar said there are numbers of birds from India and abroad which come during winter season. Presently they sit on the trees during low tide or by the bank of River Mandovi to fetch food. The project will be creating two vacant places of 300 sqm each so that birds can rest on ground in the sanctuary and hunt for the required food.
