Raipur, November 4 / Describing the incident of four elephants including a calf falling into an open well in Chhattisgarh’s Barnawapara Sanctuary on the night of November 3 as extremely unfortunate, Raipur resident Nitin Singhvi called it gross negligence of the Forest Department. Singhvi said that he has been demanding since 2018 to close open and dry wells in the forest area and its surrounding areas. Taking this seriously, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, also wrote a letter to the Chhattisgarh government in the year 2021 to take action. Later, on Singhvi’s request, the Government of India ordered all the states and union territories of the country to close the open wells in 2022.
The Forest Department did not submit any proposal in the state budget.
Singhvi stated that for the past seven years, the Forest Department has not taken any action to obtain budgetary funding from the state government to protect these wells, even though the number of open and dry wells in and around forest areas in the state is estimated to be over twenty-five thousand. In 2024, only 450 open wells were protected by building protective walls using CAMPA funds, and that too only in Kanker district, while the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) did not close any wells.
*A letter was also written a month ago*
Singhvi stated that he had written to the state government on September 25th regarding elephants getting trapped in muddy ponds, and the closure of muddy ponds, dry wells, and open wells. The government took this seriously, but later, departmental officials showed no interest.
*No lessons learned from the 2017 incident*
In 2017, a female elephant fell into a dry well near Pratappur. She was rescued by a crane, but died immediately. Singhvi alleged that even after this incident, the Forest Department failed to take action. Every year, many bears, leopards, hyenas, and other animals fall into these wells, either dying or being injured, and later end up imprisoned in zoos for life. Perhaps the Forest Department is pleased that the number of animals in zoos is increasing.
*Forest Department has gone astray to showcase Jhumar*
Singhvi accused the Forest Department, saying that officials purporting to protect wildlife are now prioritizing promoting eco-tourism instead of working for wildlife. Instead of protecting the Jhumar and Green caves in the Kanger Valley National Park, which have been preserved for millions of years and whose biodiversity could be destroyed by human intervention, the department is focusing more effort and attention on preparing to open them to the public in the name of eco-tourism. To mislead the public and gain publicity, they are claiming that the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve will have more tigers than Kanha.
*More focus on filmmaking
Singhvi stated in the discussion that ten days ago, a private university, under the protection of the Forest Department, obtained permission for academic purposes near the Siddha Baba waterfall in the Kasdol area of the Baloda Bazar Forest Division, where the incident of four elephants falling into a well occurred. Sources indicate that elephants were roaming there ten days ago and, according to reports, firecrackers were set off to capture the elephants. The Forest Department was aware of everything, but officials remained blind.*
*How long will wild animals fall into wells?*
Singhvi asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to issue a press release and disclose whether his priority is eco-tourism or wildlife protection. If wildlife protection is to be protected, he should explain when the open, dry wells and dangerous ponds in and around Chhattisgarh’s forest areas will become safe for wildlife.
