Chandil forest seems to have received a fresh lease of life.

The lockdown has brought about visible positive changes in the Chandil forest range of neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

Air and water quality have improved, noise pollution has decreased and bird species that were earlier not seen there have been sighted in the forest, according to a report prepared by Chandil forest range officer Ashok Kumar.

“I think the lockdown should be imposed for at least month in a year for maintaining ecological balance by nature. This way, nature will itself take care of the ecological balance in the forest,” the officer said.

He has observed that air quality is definitely better now than it was before the restrictions.

“Noise and water pollution have also decreased since movement of vehicles has stopped and factories in the vicinity are not functioning,” he added.

He said black dust used to earlier cover the courtyard and rooms of his residence near Chandil railway station before the lockdown but now it has become a thing of the past because the coal dumping yard is shut.

Kumar said new species of birds, including peacocks and partridges, were nowadays sighted in the Chandil forest range.

“The density of birds has also increased at the catchment area of Chandil dam. These are very welcome signs,” he added.

“Animals are moving freely without human interference,” the range officer observed.

“What’s more, elephants were also staying in the forest and no longer venturing into human habitats in search of food,” he added.