Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: The number of migratory birds arriving at the Hirakud reservoir has gradually declined in the past two years.
According to the bird census, as many as 79,000 migratory birds had come to the reservoir in 2012-13 and 64,000 birds were recorded in 2013-14. However, the number has dropped to 58,000 this season, said forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh.
Every year, officials of Hirakud wildlife division and those of the Sambalpur and Jharsuguda forest divisions conduct the bird census at Chilika and Anshupa lakes, Bhitarkanika National Park and Hirakud reservoir. Migratory birds from Mongolia, Iran, Russia and other parts of the northern hemisphere usually visit the Hirakud reservoir every year, Arukh said.
Expressing her concern over the decline in bird count at the reservoir, local MLA Raseswari Panigrahi said the fishermen from Chhattisgarh were found trespassing into the Hirakud reservoir area. "Besides catching fish illegally from the reservoir, they are also poaching birds," Panigrahi said.
Arukh, however, denied the role of poaching behind the decline in the number of birds. "No such allegation has come to our notice. If we receive any such allegation, we will probe into the matter, and stringent action will be taken against the poachers," the minister said.
Arukh said that no sign of bird flu was detected among the migratory birds visiting the reservoir. Large-scale poaching of migratory birds has been reported in and around the Chilika lake. The minister said preventive and enforcement measures were being initiated to prevent bird poaching. "This year, 15 cases were registered against such violators, and 19 poachers had been convicted," he said.
The migratory birds are attracted to the Hirakud reservoir because of the easy availability of food and water. Panigrahi said lack of manpower had hit the enforcement activities, and she demanded further recruitment of forest personnel.
Arukh said there was a scarcity of forest staff members at the level-range officer posts. However, he said steps would be taken for recruitment.
