With water receding in Manjeera, forest dept junks crocodile census

Hyderabad: The forest department has been forced to abort its bi-annual crocodile census even as the authorities are grappling with the big question of pumping out the remaining water from

Manjeera reservoir

, a notified crocodile sanctuary. Not drawing out the little water would save 430

crocodiles

. But, with Sangareddy municipal commissioner writing to forest department seeking permission to pump water for drinking water purposes, forest officials aver it could spell doom for the reptiles — some of them had strayed into nearby fields and wells recently.

A crocodile census was conducted in 2017 and it was found there were around 430 reptiles. “We conduct census every two years but we can’t use boats as there is no water in Manjeera. So, we are not doing the census this year,” Sangareddy district forest officer V Venkateswara Rao told TOI.

While forest department, Sangareddy Municipal Corporation and HMWS&SB are at loggerheads, four instances of conflict between humans and crocodiles were reported. Rao said crocodiles — one from Mission Bhagiratha well in Pulkal and three from agricultural fields in Pulkal and Raikode — were rescued and released in ponds in Manjeera. He said they faced water scarcity last year too.

Currently, Manjeera has water in patches. Saying that Singur has less water than Manjeera, Rao said since HMWS&SB has control over water in Manjeera, they have requested them to maintain a minimum water level. “We are not allowing any one to pump water from Manjeera. A few days ago, the Sangareddy municipal commissioner sought permission to draw water. But, we did not allow,” he said.

Rao further said even farmers were not being allowed near agriculture fields to draw water. “We are patrolling with special teams to prevent pumping of water,” he added.

Meanwhile, municipal authorities have drawn up a plan to source water from Manjeera in case Singur dries up. Municipal commissioner PVVD Prasada Rao told TOI that drinking water for Sangareddy town is supplied every second day. “Our plan is to draw water from Manjeera if Singur dries up. We have written to the forest department to allow us to draw water from Manjeera as we did in 2016,” he said.