Khajuripada: The Forest department digs artificial waterholes inside forest to ensure drinking water for wild animals in dry season, but many such projects hold no water and have been left unused for animals in Kandhamal district.
One such botched up project has been located at Ranipathar under Sudukumpa range.
Lakhs of rupees are spent for creating water bodies for the animals. If these projects fail to deliver the purpose, the money goes down the drain, lamented locals of Sudukumpa.
Reports said the waterhole was dug up at a cost of Rs 6 lakh. This summer, the pond was found to be dry throughout the season when mercury had touched 43 degrees.
Locals said wild animals might have gone through a lot of hardship for lack of water in the region while it cannot be denied that some of them might have died without getting a drop of water.
“What is the use of digging such projects by investing lakhs of rupees? The project has been botched up to make money with little concern for the wildlife,” a local bemoaned.
Artificial ponds are meant to combat water scarcity inside forests and ensure that wild animals quench their thirst. Waterholes also stop wild animals from straying into villages and being poached, locals said.
Effective waterholes are usually a major relief for a good number of wild animals to drink water.
Locals sought to know why forester Ranjit Kumar Apat preferred an elevated site for the pond which does not hold water.
The water project was dug up during the lockdown with machines while local labourers should have been engaged, they pointed out.
Locals have demanded a Vigilance probe into the alleged irregularity in the pond project.