Water scarcity in forests is not troubling wildlife alone. It is tourism too. Nagzira wildlife sanctuary, one of the favourite nature
destinations for Nagpurians, may shut down for tourists wanting to stay the night because of water shortage. The water situation inside the sanctuary has reached alarming levels and the management is finding it difficult to meet the water requirements of guest houses.
All protected areas (PAs) like Bor, Tipeshwar, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Pench in the Nagpur wildlife circle, and non-protected areas are grappling with water crisis due to depleting levels in perennial water bodies. But at Nagzira things are really bad. If they get any worse, even tourists coming for day visits will be barred.
According to conservative estimates, Nagzira complex alone requires 5 tankers of water daily for tourists. This can fill up around 10 water holes for wildlife. There is a residential facility for around 75 tourists with 13 suites, holiday homes, and dormitory. There is around 25-30 field staff. Besides daily 45 vehicles enter the park. Some of day tourists also spend the day at tourist complex increasing the water demand. The carrying capacity of the sanctuary is 30 vehicles from two gates Pitezari and Chorkhamara.
Almost all the natural water lakes around the 164-sq km sanctuary have dried up due to deficient rainfall last year. The only drinking water well near the lake which caters to the tourists requirement has almost dried up. Bodhalkasa dam, which is 25 kms from Nagzira, is the only source left. There too, water is available in a small strip. Getting water from Bodhalkasa will be the last resort, sources said.
M M Kulkarni, deputy conservator of forests (DyCF), Gondia wildlife division, admits to precarious water situation. Small streams inside the sanctuary had gone dry in December. Attempts to keep the water sources alive by deepening them is being undertaken on war-footing. "Despite best efforts, we may not be able to meet water requirement of tourists. Hence a harsh decision may have to be taken," he stressed.
Kulkarni informed that there were 45 artificial water holes in the sanctuary, some of them have been closed down but others are being filled regularly through tankers. "As the only well meant to supply water to tourists going dry, we may limit tourists to day visits," he added.
Sources said due to rising temperatures, number of water holes has gone down and wild animals have to go long distances in search of water. Animals like chousingha and nilgai, which normally don't like presence of humans, now hardly feel disturbed by tourists. Ironically, water shortage has meant better sightings increasing the tourist inflow and also water demand.
Other sanctuaries are also feeling the pinch. In Pench, Kolitmara area has already been closed for tourists due to water scarcity. S H Patil, field director of TATR, was not available for comments but officials said the only accommodation available is at Kolsa. As of now there are no plans to restrict night tourists here.
Vijay Ghugey, president of Nisarg Vidnyan Mandal (NVM), recalled of sporadic cases of wild animal deaths this summer due to thirst near Muniya forest area, 18 kms from Nagpur. Muniya is proposed to be a community reserve. Meanwhile, Vivek Vekhande of Resort Saras in Moharli outside Tadoba, says, "As Moharli is close to Irai reservoir the water level is good and hence there is no scarcity as such."
Praful Bhamburkar of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) warned that man-animal conflict will further aggravate if steps were not taken for better water management, specially in territorial areas, where problem will be acute.