Forest department works on relocating Upvan's crocs

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UPVAN LAKE: The two crocodiles of Upvan Lake may have a new home. On

Wednesday morning, officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department

 

transported them from their long-time residence at the lake, to the

Sanjay Gandhi National park, just down the road. Vasant Dhavkare,

State Legislative Council Deputy, would be a pleased man. Only three

days earlier, he had issued a suo moto order to the government,

demanding the removal of the crocodiles from the lake as they posed a

danger to swimmers. Dhavkare met with officials from the Forest

Department on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

 

" The state forest department is conducting the removal procedure, " he

confirmed. " We were first going to shift the crocodiles to the nearby

Vihar Lake, but on the suggestion of the forest minister, Babanrao

Pachpute, we are now building a protected well for the crocodiles. " An

official from the Forest Department, Shri Bhagwan confirmed that his

department was working on relocating the crocodiles. " We are currently

searching for the crocodiles and our department has already begun

construction of a well, in which we will put the crocodiles. The well

will be ready soon. " he said, but declined to comment on the exact

date on which the well would be ready.

 

Dhavkare also criticised the TMC, accusing them of shirking their

duties and responsibilities. " The TMC did nothing, even after

continuous complaints from the people. I have been receiving

complaints from the last one year and so I asked the Forest Department

to act, " he said.

 

The bureaucratic tug-of-war continues between Dhavkare, the TMC and

the Forest Department, it seems that at least for now, all's well,

that is, if the crocodiles get their well.

 

When this newspaper contacted the TMC, Manisha Pradhan, in-charge of

pollution control board, which looks after the lakes, informed that

she had no idea of the forest department's move of relocating the

crocodiles. She also said it was the job of the forest department to

do the same.