Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary: In News
The irrigation engineers of Telangana say they would ensure that the proposed Pranahita-Chevella barrage on River Pranahita does not submerge the Chaprala wildlife sanctuary located near the barrage site.
- Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
- It is located on the bank of the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers.
- The Pranhita River flows along its western boundary.
- During the monsoons, river water swells and enters the sanctuary.
- Additionally, several water bodies, including the Murgikunta, Raikonta, and Komatkunta tanks, further contribute to the sanctuary’s biodiversity.
- It is also home to the indigenous Gond tribal community.
- It is dominated by southern tropical dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands.
- The dominant tree species include teak, arjun, salai, mahua, bel, dhawada, tendu, sissoo, and semal.
- It is inhabited by Tiger, Leopard, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Wild dogs, Langurs, Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Jackal, Mongoose, etc.
- The sanctuary also features a distinctive riparian ecosystem that supports a diverse aquatic fauna, including fish, prawns, and turtles.
Pranahita River:
- It is a significant tributary of the Godavari River, formed by the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers.
- It flows through the states of Maharashtra and Telangana.
- The river course is principally through the dense forests, which are rich in Sagwan or timber trees.
- By virtue of its extensive network of tributaries, the river drains all of the Vidharba region as well as the southern slopes of the Satpura Ranges.
- The river is known for its vast catchment area and plays a key role in irrigation and local agriculture.
- In recent years, the Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Project was proposed to utilize the river’s water for irrigation and drinking water supply to drought-prone areas in Telangana.
