First batch of ‘Kurjan’ lands in Khichan, but conservation project yet to take off

Jodhpur: This year’s first batch of migratory Demoiselle Cranes, popularly known as ‘Kurjan’, arrived for its winter stay at Phalodi’s Khichan on Sunday.
Known for spending about six months in Khichan, these birds begin landing here in August every year. The delay of one month this year, according to experts, is due to changing climate conditions. Khichan in the newly formed Phalodi district is famous for these migratory birds. Tourists as well as bird enthusiasts flock to this wetland area that is spread over 1,050 bighas.
Considering this, the state government had declared a conservation reserve for these migratory birds in Khichan on May 22 with a financial sanction of Rs 2 crore for developmental works.
Almost four months have passed since but no progress has been made on the project, with the department yet to come up with a plan for execution.
DCF (wildlife) Sandeep Chhalani said that the plan for the project is yet to be drafted. “Once it is ready, we will begin the exercise to implement the plan,” he said, assuring that it will be done soon.
The project includes construction of a rescue center, fencing of areas within which the cranes move, construction of an elevated viewing platform for visitors, and installation of signage and other key information about the birds.
Bird enthusiasts who were pleased with the declaration of a conservation reserve for the Kurjan are now disappointed at the delay.
“Had the plan been implemented before the arrival of the birds this season, a lot of issues would have been addressed,” said Seva Ram, who has been attending to these birds for years.
He said that the safety of these birds and cleanliness of the area of their movement is of great importance and the conservation reserve would be good not only for the birds but also for the entire town as more tourists and bird enthusiasts will be drawn to it.