In birds' own country a long wait for water to breed (The Hindu 07 August 2011)

An anxious wait for rain continues in the world famous birds' country, Keoladeo National Park (KNP), near Bharatpur in Rajasthan as rain gods have not exactly smiled on the marshes this season yet. Monsoon showers mean everything to the 29 sq. km park, a World Heritage site, as the nesting and breeding of a large number of bird species totally depends on inundation of the marshes and the arrival of fingerlings which form the food for the newborn and the parents.
The wait is not by the hooting, cackling, winging avian force alone as the stake holders include rickshaw pullers doubling as naturalists in the park, hoteliers, vehicle operators and thousands of other people in the Keoladeo surroundings who survive on as well as live with them. The Forest Fepartment authorities, for whom arranging for the annul intake of 550 million cubic feet (MCFT) water to the park has become a herculean task year after year of late, are keeping their fingers crossed on the season's breeding prospects.
“We are still hoping that the park will get water in the next fortnight. If that does not happen, the birds now waiting in the newly built nests would abandon their homes and leave the place,” says Anoop K.R., Field Director of the Park. Early breeders -- Open billed stork, Cormorant, Egret, Darter, White Ibis, Grey heron: in a good year their numbers could be legion -- who start arriving in the park by the end of June are ensconced in the nests and the signal would be the next gush of big waters into the park.
Then there are Spoon bills, Painted storks, Spot bill, Comb duck, Cotton teal, Bronze winged jacana, Purple moorhen… It is during the monsoon that the heronry, terrestrial birds and ungulates alike come alive and celebrate the season of creation.
Of late the water supply to the park, once a duck shooting ground for the rulers of Bharatpur State and their guests, has been erratic. Increasing the height of the Panchana dam in Karauli district without fixing a minimum share of water to the Keoladeo marshes some time back is now proving a big mistake on the part of the planners. The farmers in the upstream area are resisting release of the water and the authorities are afraid to act -- for birds do not have votes, as famously said by a Bharatpur politician once.
There had been some efforts by the Rajasthan Government in the past to help the park overcome its water crisis -- which has also put a question mark over its continuing in the Heritage list. The State Board for Wildlife has already passed a resolution recommending an annul quota for KNP from Panchana, fed by the rivers, Ghambir and Banganga.
Work is in progress on the 17.1 km Govardhan Drain project which is expected to harness flood waters from a 70 km area in the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well. However, this project, funded by the Planning Commission, will be ready only for the nest season -- in 2013. A 3.6 km water inlet -- Chiksana Canal -- built recently at a cost of Rs. 41 lakhs, is to bring in 50 MCFT water.
The previous season (2010-11) was good with 700-800 pairs breeding in Keoladeo while the preceding year was a disaster with park missing its chicks. The year 2008-09 too had witnessed good breeding – more than 1,000 nests, as per Mr. Anoop's estimate -- while there is a question mark on the current season.
The rainy season for east Rajasthan is from July to September but then the birds are not going to wait eternally for their home-making. “If the park is not flooded in another week we can only hope for action from the late breeders such as Spoon bills and Painted storks,” says Mr. Anoop.