PANJIM: As a measure to reduce human-animal conflict and arrest the gradual fall in water table, the State Forest department has commenced revival of water conservation in the forest areas.
The department has taken up the initiative under Central Government campaign ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’, a campaign for water conservation and water security. The scheme focuses on renovation of water bodies, regulating industrial consumption, harvesting rainwater and reuse of wastewater.
Speaking during World Wetland Day celebration, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Subhash Chandra said that his department is working to revive the existing water conservation sections along with creating some artificial water bodies to reduce the runoff water and to increase ground water table.
“This will basically help the wild animals to get the required water for consumption. It will also help in ensuring that wild animals don’t intrude into villages in search of water, especially during summer,” he said.
The Goa State Wetland Authority in collaboration with Goa State Biodiversity Board had organised a day long programme to celebrate the World Wetland Day, which is observed on February 2.
Further, Chandra said that the department is also working towards promoting eco-tourism in hinterlands, to give a boost to the village economy in the forested areas.
“The eco-tourism concept also helps us in preserving forest, wetlands, protected areas, etc,” he said.
