Panchana Dam behind the sad state of Keoladeo Park:Enviornmentalist

Jaipur, Nov 26(UNI) The Panchana dam, which is at the centre of an ongoing water conflict in the Karouli and Sawai Madhopur districts in Rajasthan, has been viewed as ''environmentally ill conceived'' as it has not only deprived water to the farmers but is also blocking the flow of rain water to the Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur district.

''Panchana dam has caused economic and ecological ruin in the down stream due to the stoppage of the natural flow of Gambhiri river.

It has led to devastation of the aquatic character of the Keoladeo National Park(KNP) which is devoid of flowing water even during monsoon,'' said Harsh Vardhan, noted environmentalist and a member of the Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court.

''The dam has also downscaled the economy of thousands of agriculturalists along the banks of the river and around the park'', he added.

Expressing concern over the ongoining water conflict between the farmers living in the upstream and down stream of the dam, Mr Vardhan said ''lack of politcal will has led to such sad present state of affairs''.

''The area is fully politicised with the recent Gujjar-Meena confrontation over Gujjars demand for inclusion in the ST list'', Mr Vardhan noted.

''The present political situation should take the entire blame for allowing and abetting such issues to reach the conflict level'', he noted.

UNI