The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan's Bharatpur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is facing a water crisis because monsoon rainfall has been deficient and no water has been released this season from the Panchana Dam, which traditionally supplies most of the wetland's annual requirement of 550 million cubic feet.
- Park officials say several wetland blocks have dried up, fish mortality has increased, and some bird species have not begun nesting, with authorities resorting to emergency measures like the Chambal pipeline and groundwater pumping that they describe as temporary relief.
- The crisis also threatens the livelihoods of guides, naturalists, hoteliers and others dependent on tourism, since the park hosts around 336 bird species and attracts thousands of migratory birds and tourists each year.
- Officials have written to the divisional commissioner and the water resources department seeking immediate water release, and have warned that continued shortages could invite fresh scrutiny from UNESCO, which has repeatedly flagged water availability as the park's foremost conservation challenge.
What to watch next
- Whether the Rajasthan government or water resources department orders water release from Panchana Dam in response to the park administration's request
- Whether the Chambal pipeline supply of three MCFT per week continues and how far it compensates for the shortfall
- Any response or decision from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee regarding the park's status amid the water shortage
Coverage1
1 report
English national1
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Named India · Bharatpur · Karauli · Keoladeo National Park · Ajan Bundh · Chambal · Empowered Committee on Forests and Wildlife Management · Panchana Dam · Rajasthan Government · UNESCO · V Chetan Kumar · Water Resources Department
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