Lake in Hisar drained for renovation, birds struggle
epender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, June 5
Birds and animals at the lake in the Bluebird tourist complex here are struggling for survival as the lake has gone dry. Sources said that the contractor of the lake has drained out the water for renovating the lake.
Wide cracks have developed in the lake. The birds, including domestic ducks and geese, and animals are suffering. Some birds have even died in the absence of water. Sources said the lake, which is a tourist spot, was given on lease for three years to a contractor. “The contractor plans to set up a mound in the lake and to increase the depth by removing soil from the lake floor. However, his plans are proving deadly for the birds with the mercury hovering around 46°C,” said another person.
Om Prakash, an official of the Bluebird tourist complex, said that the water had started stinking. The earlier contractor was doing fish farming in the lake. The new contractor has decided to renovate the lake after draining out the old water from the lake. “The contractor is working expeditiously to renovate and refill the lake as he too is at a financial loss. The lake will be developed as tourist spot and used for boating,” he said.
Dr Ashok Kumar, an animal scientist at the Lala Lajpat University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS) here, said, “I have not visited the spot. But the birds cannot survive without water. They should have gone elsewhere in search of another water body.”
A local resident said that he spotted many birds lying dead around the lake as the ducks are falling prey to stray dogs. “The new contractor has drained out the water for renovation. But this plan in the prevailing high temperature is proving deadly for the birds,” he said.
‘No info on avian loss’
Rameshwar Dass, Wildlife Inspector at Hisar, said the matter of any loss to the birds had not come to his knowledge so far. “Obviously, the heat is taking a toll on the birds and animals. I will look into the matter,” he said.
