Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has banned boating in Mahanadi river in Cuttack for seven days for annual census of crocodiles and birds.
According to sources in Forest department, the counting of crocodiles in the Mahanadi river system will continue from January 5 to 9 while the bird census will be carried out o January 17 and 18. Due to the census work, boating in the river system has been banned on these seven days.
Besides boating, fishing has also been banned in the river during the seven days. The department has warned of strict action against anybody who would flout the ban during the period. The fishing boats would be seized for violation of the ban, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Forest officials along with the experts have geared up to carry out the census work. Several teams have been formed for smooth and accurate counting of crocodiles and birds, they added.
