Indore: Lack Of Budget Hampers Efforts To Provide Succour

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): As temperatures soar to dangerous levels for peacocks, reaching 40.1°C on Tuesday, the Forest Department has finally begun to take action to address the growing crisis.

On Tuesday, six spots across the region were provided with water and feed for peafowls. This marks the first significant step taken after authorities identified 50 such spots that required immediate attention due to the extreme heat.

The Indore Weather Office recorded a temperature of 40.1°C, which is 2°C higher than usual, with no rainfall to alleviate the scorching conditions. By 5:30 PM, the temperature stood at 38.2°C, with humidity at 22%, and visibility remained clear.

These high temperatures are already proving fatal for several peafowls in areas like Kalindi Colony and Residency Area with locals discovering lifeless bodies of the birds due to dehydration and heatstroke. Despite identifying 50 critical spots in the region, the Forest Department's action has been slow, with only six spots receiving the necessary relief measures. Krishna Ninama, assistant conservator of forests, explained that while the department has identified the areas needing attention, no budget has been allocated for comprehensive action. This lack of funding has significantly hindered the ability to address the crisis effectively. The Environment Department, responsible for wildlife protection, has yet to make any substantial intervention.

The delay in providing necessary resources such as water and feed has raised serious concerns among residents and environmentalists. The peacock, India’s national bird, is an important cultural and symbolic figure.

The loss of these birds to preventable causes like heatstroke and dehydration would be a major setback, not just for wildlife conservation but for the country's natural heritage. In 2020, the Forest Department introduced a cluster-based conservation system to monitor and protect the habitats of over 10,000 peafowls across 80 villages in Indore, Mhow, Manpur, and Choral. However, this initiative has remained largely inactive, with no significant follow-up, leaving the peafowls at risk during such extreme weather conditions.

The lack of timely action to protect the peafowls during this heatwave is a direct result of inadequate planning and a failure to allocate funds for summer wildlife protection. The Environment Department has not made provisions for peacock protection this year, leaving the birds vulnerable to the intense heat. Local residents and environmental advocates are calling for immediate intervention — including the installation of emergency water tanks and feed programmes to help the distressed birds. Authorities must also deploy field staff to monitor and rescue any affected peafowls and provide regular updates to the public regarding the situation.