THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The forest department’s plan to provide water to wild animals, who are in need for water, has been halted due to a lack of special funds after the water bodies in the forest dried up due to the scorching heat. Projects such as reviving 1,434 water bodies in the forest and supplying water in tankers have gone nowhere. In the post-mortem, it was found that a wild elephant died in Pathanapuram Punnala Kadasseri forest recently due to a lack of drinking water. Still, it is alleged that the forest department is not diligent in implementing the project.

Only some projects, including the construction of small ponds in the forest area, have been partially implemented. Brushwood dams such as small barrages and upgrading ponds adjacent to forest areas were included in the employment scheme in some places on a regional basis. These too have stopped recently. Due to the lack of water and food in the forest, wild animals are venturing into inhabited areas.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s scheme to provide water to wild animals and build reservoirs was about 50 percent successful. 115 reservoirs have been set up in the Coimbatore region. However, since Kerala has a lot of greenery, wild animals from there also come here in the summer, said Shashi Kumar, ex-range officer of Pulpally Chethalayam.

The forest department authorities said that out of 578 fields (2,234.79 hectares) adjacent to forests, 367 are fully watered and steps have been taken to ensure water availability in 642.59 hectares. Out of 1,434 water holes, 308 have been made available. Bringing water in a tanker is not useful. Wild animals mostly depend on natural drinking water sources. It is also stated that they are not compatible with newly made ones.