Metal fencing around nuclear plant leads to death of 4 blackbucks in Haryana

FATEHABAD: Four blackbucks have died in the past three days after getting trapped in the metal fencing around a nuclear-power plant site near Badopal village of Fatehabad district, provoking protests from residents.

One blackbuck each died on Friday and Saturday night, and two were killed on Sunday morning after they first got stuck in the fencing and later fell prey to attacks by stray dogs.

On Sunday members of the Bishnoi community took along the carcasses of three animals and sat on a dharna at the bus stand in Badopal. Later, a seven-member committee of the protesters met the Fatehabad deputy commissioner and submitted a plea for the dismantling of the fence around the plant being built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

"The committee urged the deputy commissioner to remove the metal fence from Badopal," People For Animals member Manoj Karwasra told TOI. "The deputy commissioner assured us he will take up the matter with the government and the NPCIL project manager."

Nearly 500 blackbucks and an equal number of nilgais live near Badopal where the NPCIL is planning its residential colony.