Forest department authorities in the district of Alluri Sitharama Raju in Andhra Pradesh took action by cutting the bark of an Indian laurel tree, revealing a surprising sight of water gushing out. A video capturing this moment has gained significant attention on various social media platforms, sparking astonishment among viewers.
This incident occurred within the premises of Papikonda National Park, where forest officials conducted the bark-cutting procedure to unveil the tree’s remarkable ability to store water, especially during the summer season. Interestingly, this knowledge was imparted to the forest department by the Konda Reddi tribe, a marginalized indigenous community residing in the Papikonda hill range situated in the Godavari region. The tribe is well-regarded for their profound understanding of local flora and fauna.
The Indian Laurel tree, scientifically referred to as Ficus microcarpa, is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions across Asia, Western Pacific Islands, and Australia. Renowned for its ornamental value, this tree boasts a dense canopy, smooth light-gray bark, and glossy green lanceolate leaves. Its lush foliage creates a conducive habitat for various avian species, while its small round figs serve as a vital food source for birds.
The emergence of water from the bark of the Indian laurel tree holds particular significance amid prevailing water scarcity issues in several regions of India, including Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Karnataka, notably Bengaluru, its capital city, grappling with a severe water crisis. Reports indicate that reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh are currently at a mere 22% of their storage capacity, a stark decline from the 66% recorded during the same period last year.
Across the country, reservoir levels in 15 out of 21 major states are below the decade-average. States such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are experiencing reservoir levels more than 20% lower than the decade-average. Notably, Andhra Pradesh stands out with a departure from the ten-year average at 49%, reflecting the severity of the situation in the state.
View this post on Instagram
Read More :
