Crocodiles sighted in Godavari near Atreyapuram

 KAKINADA: Sighting of crocodiles in waters of Godavari near Atreyapuram in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district is causing tension among people and officials in the area as immersion of Lord Ganesha idols is going on in the river.

Police have put up caution boards advising devotees not to immerse idols or take bath in the Godavari River. Forest officials are on the lookout for the crocodiles.

Local fishermen had informed Atreyapuram police about the movement of crocodiles in the river. Atreyapuram sub-inspector B. Kirankumar immediately alerted locals not to endanger themselves by getting into the river.

He has also erected caution boards at the bathing ghats and points where Ganesh idols are being immersed.

Kirankumar told Deccan Chronicle that sightings of crocodiles had been reported two days ago. He said they have been unable to sight any crocodile on Friday. However, as a precautionary measure, people are not being allowed to get into the river.

However, a project taken up five years ago by Egree Foundation, along with central and state governments, apart from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), stated that no salt water crocodiles have been sighted in Godavari estuaries and Coringa Sanctuary.

In 1978, three saltwater crocodiles had been released into the sanctuary. But soon, there were reports that they had been killed. During the Pushkaram period, however, fishermen found the movement of crocodiles near Polavaram and Pichukalanka areas. Some persons also caught the movement of crocodiles on their cameras. However, since then, no movement of crocodiles has been reported.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district forest officer (DFO) M.V. Prasada Rao said there have been no sightings of crocodiles. But they could exist in a limited habitation as per availability of food.

The DFO instructed forest personnel to check out the reports of sightings and erect caution boards. Once the crocodiles are sighted, they would erect fencing, so that the reptiles do not move downstream, where water flow is heavy.

Prasada Rao asked people, in particular fishermen, to look out for crocodile movement when they venture into the Godavari.