The water-starved Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, whose Unesco status of world heritage site is under threat due to persistent water crisis, can finally soak some hope. The Supreme Court-constituted central empowered committee (CEC) has sanctioned Rs 65 crores to this sanctuary for water harvesting projects and maintaining its aquatic ecology. Funds were sanctioned after request from the state government, which was losing both its visitors and birds, to this world-famous bird sanctuary. The amount will be funded through CAMPA (compensatory afforestation fund management and planning authority) constituted by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). This is for the first time that any amount will be sanctioned from the CAMPA fund which constitutes of compensation by state government for using forest land. Senior officials in the ministry said a committee of technical experts have already examined the area and advised natural harvesting. A committee will be constituted to monitor the implementation of water harvesting projects in the national park. Though the state government tried to provide water from the neighbouring Panchna dam, it only ended up in protests by farmers who accused the state government of stealing their water for irrigation. State authorities also tried to dig wells but they failed to attract migratory birds who prefer flowing water. Due to water scarcity, even the famous Siberian cranes have not visited this sanctuary for more than three years. The sanctuary is visited by more than 300 birds annually but in the last couple of years it was losing some of its regular migratory visitors due to scarcity of water. The situation worsened so much that the International Crane Foundation, American Fish and Wildlife Service, the Smithsonian Association, the UN Foundation and the Rajasthan Hotel Association had to write letter to the chief minister urging immediate action. The sanctioned amount will also be used for implementing a drain project and the Dholpur-Bharatpur Chambal drinking water project, prepared by the state government. The Bharatpur bird sanctuary (officially Ghana bird sanctuary) in Keoladeo national park was declared a world heritage site in 1985 by Unesco.