Saucer pits set up in Charla forest area to quench thirst of animals

​Kothagudem: The rising mercury levels are not making life tough for the people, they are equally affecting the lives of animals in the forests.

Though people can at least struggle and fetch water, the animals are left to wander in forests in search of water where most of water sources have dried up due to scorching heat.

As a result, venturing of animals, especially wild ones, into villages in search of water are putting villagers on tenterhooks and leaving them in panic.

Keeping in view of such conditions, the forest officials have set up saucer pits to provide water to forest animals. In all, 225 pits were set up in the forest area at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. They have set up 2 to 3 saucer pits in every mandal forest area and have been inspecting the pits daily.

The district forest officials have directed the forest staff to make water available in the saucer pits, which are mostly set up in Charla and Dummugudem mandals, and advised them to inspect the pits regularly.

The officials further warned of stringent action against staff who remain negligent in performing their duties. District Forest Officer S Rambabu and Kothagudem Circle Forest Officer PV Raja Rao said wild animals including wild goat, deer, bison, forest pigs, rabbits, peacocks etc were quenching their thirst from these saucer pits.

Meanwhile, nature and animal lovers have been appreciating the forest officials for their noble initiative.