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As water bodies dry up, ELCOT tank attracts birds
After several water bodies almost dried up in Chennai region, open water spaces located in the premise of Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has turned out to be a last refuge for birds. Bird activists raise apprehension over construction activities in the area and appealed to the concerned forest and ELCOT officials to protect the birds.
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migrator
migrator
Chennai
According to birders, due to the scorching heat that Chennai experienced till a couple of days ago, all the birds, including migratory birds, left the waterbodies. Even Pallikaranai wetland has a minimum number of birds.
However, the open space reservation land in the premise of ELCOT has turned into a water tank and this has attracted a huge number of birds including migratory birds, said bird watchers. KVRK Thirunaranan, a bird watcher and founder of The Nature Trust told DT Next that construction activities were a threatening factor for these birds.
“We spotted huge ducks in large number and migratory birds like garganey and Northern shoveler in considerable number. Moreover, such a water body should be preserved as a last resort for giving comfortable place, until next monsoon,” he said.
Thirunaranan recounted that the same thing happened in the last year. However, forest and ELCOT officials did not disturb the birds. “Similarly, we want the officials not to allow any construction in the same place,” he stressed.
G Vijayakumar, secretary of Madras Naturalists’ Society (MNS) said “it is rare that birds found comfortable place even in summer. So, it is the high time those birds are protected.”
When contacted, a forest official said, “We have already made a representation in a meeting to protect the birds in the ELCOT premise and we will continue to monitor the water space.” Since forest department officials have access to ELCOT premises, they will protect the birds, added the official.
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