Greens welcome new Central notification on eco-sensitive zone status for sanctuaries

THANJAVUR: Bird watchers and wild life enthusiasts of Cauvery delta districts welcomed the approval of final eco-sensitive zone notifications for Vaduvur birds sanctuary in Tiruvarur district and Point Calimere wildlife and birds sanctuary in Nagapattinam district by the Union Environment ministry on Friday.

Ram Manohar, Co-coordinator, National Green Corps, Thanjavur district and Vice-president of Clean Thanjavur Movement who frequently takes students to Vaduvur birds sanctuary for bird watching and environment study welcomed the move of the environment ministry. "This has to be done to protect the eco-system around the birds sanctuary. PWD should take care while desilting the lake. Water level should be maintained throughout the year in the lake at least for a small depth to keep birds," he said.

Rajendran, president of bird watchers association of Vaduvur also welcomed the move.

Dr.K.Arivoli, District Forest Officer, Tiruvarur district under whose control the birds sanctuary comes (a part of Point calimere wildlife and birds sanctuary also comes under his control) welcomed the decision of the environment ministry. It will go a long way in protecting the sanctuaries and fauna.

"The sprawling lake on 317 acres at Vaduvur on Thanjavur-Mannargudi road attracts 132 species of birds. Birds census taken in February this year revealed this statistics. Birds visit the lake from September till February next year. This year also large number of birds are expected. The lake his yet to get its water as Mettur dam has not yet been opened for cultivation. When once the dam is opened, lake will get water and birds arrival will start. Already some birds started arriving as some water is there in the lake due to rain. The lake was desilted by PWD and there is some water in desilted areas" Arivoli said.

Darter, Indian cormorant, Little cormorant, Black crowned night heron, Grey heron, Indian pond heron, purple heron, Cattle egret, Great egret, Intermediate egret, Little egret, Asian open bill, Black headed ibis, Common coot, Northern shoeveller, Hawk cuckoo, Black shouldered kite, Besra, Oriented honey buzzard, Pied harrier, Common iora, Hoopoe, Spotted owlet, eagles etc are the birds that visit the sanctuary.

"Otter (neer Naai) (water dog) was also spotted last year" Arivoli said. 6000 common coots were spotted in the census. 2500 Black headed Ibis came to the lake, 4000 Northern shoeveller, 432 purple heron, 343 cattle egret, 320 Asian open bill, 300 Black crowned night heron etc. But there were only three Spotted owlet, two steppe eagle, two Booed eagle, two Pied harnier, three besra etc.

Vadvur lake was declared a birds sanctuary in 1999. Forest department created ten mounds with babul and other trees for birds to nestle. These mounds 1.5mts high and 50 mts in length and ten mts in breadth are located well inside the lake providing the birds trees to perch and prey upon in the lake. .

The system tank has an ayacut of 1200 acres and gets filled up after water is released from Mettur dam.

Vaduvur also has a Kothandaramaswamy temple. Lord Rama icon in this temple is said to be one of the most beautiful one like the ones at Thillaivilagam and Maduranthakam.

Tiruvarur district has another birds sanctuary at Udhayamarthandapuram between Muthupettai and Thiruthuraipoondi. It is located on 60 acres of area and attracts 60 to 70 species of birds. Point calimere birds sanctuary accounts for large number of flamingoes next only to Raan of Kutch in Gujarat.