An eco-friendly anti-poaching camp at Moleyur

In a first of its kind in country, 'Aranyaka', an eco-friendly anti-poaching camp featuring renewable energy and sustainable technologies is coming up exclusively at Avarepura camp in Moleyur range of Bandipur.

The camp is fully equipped with Rain water harvesting system, fuel efficient biomass cook stove and bath stove so that no smoke generated while cooking;  Solar Lighting systems and solar wireless charger, where walkie-talkie handsets used by the officials of the Forest Department can be charged.

About 40 anti-poaching camps are situated at Bandipur in a radius of 5-6 kilo meters and the forest frontline staff use kerosene lamps, solar lights for light and go on search for nearby ponds, borewells for water.

Hence, to ease the problem Forest Department has constructed a fully equipped model of eco-friendly anti-poaching camp at Aranyaka with all the basic facilities required for humans to lead a better life.

The project is estimated approximately around 8.8 lakhs is funded by Karnataka State Forest Department and Wild Life conservation trust, Mumbai. The project is implemented by NIE - Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (NIE-CREST) and was conceptualized by Voice for Wild Life Trust. The camp will be left open for frontline staff by this week end.

NIE-CREST Director Prof S Shamsundar said that as per the calculations from 54 square meters of land around 40,000 liters of rain can be harvested every year from the camp. Stating the water is 100 percent sufficient for seven forest frontline staff (watchers and guards) who are residing at Avarepura, he said that the it can be used for cooking, drinking as the rain water will be hygiene and soft.

Apart this, Rain water harvesting has been deployed to store water in underground tanks which capacity is to store 9000 liter of water using a combination of Thai Jars (extensively used in Thailand) along with underground storage tanks.
   
The building is constructed using materials that are available locally.   The bricks used are made specially at the nearby Moleyur RFO office. They are not fired in a kiln like the conventional bricks,  instead are cured naturally for 21 days. This slow drying imparts the bricks a sort of thermal insulation, keeping the inside of the building always warm.

Sudheer of Voice for Wild Life Trust said that through this model camp its helpful to conserve fire wood and avoid the conventional three stone stove, quite popular among campers and trekkers.

Hosmath IFS, APCCF, Project Tiger, Mysore said that the camp will be inaugurated withing three-four days and after seeing the efficiency the plan will be extended for other camps.