Researchers with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) who are working to conserve this rare bird under the ‘Guard The Nest’ project claimed that, so far, 60 chicks and eggs of Indian skimmers in 22 nests died or got washed away following the sudden release of water from Kota barrage. Many more nests of little terns, river terns and river lapwings also got washed away in Chambal near Gotha village in Sawai Madhopur and Dhusai in Karauli districts.
These birds lay their eggs on the banks of rivers and on small islands on riverbeds during summer. As per estimates, there are approximately 300 nests of these species at present in Chambal.
BNHS director Bivash Pandav wrote a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and appealed to stop the release of water for two weeks till the newborns take flight.
The possibilities of the survival of remaining hatchlings look bleak as the water resources department may not halt releasing water from the Gandhi Sagar Dam.
A senior official with the water resource department said the department had to empty the dam before monsoon for repair work urgently. It takes nearly 27 days to empty the dam. Due to the riverfront project, the department has been releasing only 1,250 cusecs of water a day. But with little time left, for the past three days, they have been releasing 6,000 cusecs which resulted in the increase in water level.
“The decision to release water was taken at a state-level meeting. After the drowning of nests was brought to our notice, we have sought direction from senior officials,” said an official from Kota. In a face-saving exercise, the forest administration also wrote to the superintending engineer, Ranasagar Dam and Jawahar Sagar Dam. But environmentalists alleged that the forest department woke up too late.
