Book on Pakhal biodiversity

Warangal: Warangal Rural District Collector M Haritha released a coffee-table book christened as 'Pakhal Biodiversity Park – A Wild Heritage' that showcases the components of the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary in general and Pakhal Bio-diversity Park in particular, here on Monday.

The book published by the Forest Department of the Warangal Rural district is of immense help to the nature lovers, the Collector said.

DFO K Purushotham, who compiled the book, said that the book is intended to highlight the importance of environmental education, besides enriching the ecological knowledge of the people.

The book was brought forward with funds of afforestation under Haritha Haram programme.

He said that the book is studded with breath taking photos including birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, medicinal herbs and flowers. It even mentions the existence of tigers in the region some time ago due to poaching, deforestation etc.

Last time, a tiger was sighted in Rampur forest of Pakhal Wildlife sanctuary in 2009.

'Pakhal' literally means 'a large container of water' and is a Sanskrit derivative. According to the inscription erected by the Kakatiya rulers on the bund, Pakhal is a man-made freshwater lake constructed in 1245 AD during the reign of King Ganapathi Deva. The lake was renovated in 1918. All the modern modifications such as the sluice gate and the stone masonry structure were done during the Nizam era.

DPRO B Pallavi, P Veerabhadra Rao and G Naresh of Vana Seva Society were among others present.