PAWS to oppose relocation of crocodiles

June 12, 2009

Ashwin Aghor / DNA

Friday, June 12, 2009 0:12 IST

Mumbai: Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Thane has decided to

oppose the decision to relocate two crocodiles in Upavan Lake in Thane.

Deputy chairman of state Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare has given

an ultimatum of 15 days to the administration to shift the reptiles.

" The state government wants to relocate the two crocodiles living in

Upavan Lake, Pokhran Road, Thane (W) for almost past two decades. Till

date, there are no reports of any crocodile attack. Moreover, there is

no guarantee that the reptiles would survive at the new location, " said

Nilesh Bhange, PAWS, Thane.

The NGO has appealed to all animal and nature lovers to join the fight

to stop relocation of the reptiles. " We have appealed people to write a

letter to the state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute stating that the

crocodiles have not harmed anyone till date. Instead of relocating the

reptiles, administration should fence the lake, " Bhange said. There are

high possibilities that the crocodiles would die during transit and

chances of their survival at a new place are dim, he added.

According to Bhange, rapid urbanisation in the area has already

devastated the ecosystem and only two crocodiles could manage to survive

as ample food is available in the lake.

After making the administration work overtime to change the abbreviated

signboards at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus,

Davkhare has now issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government to

shift two crocodiles out of the Thane lake.

Davkhare issued the suo motu order, asking the government to remove the

crocodiles immediately from Upavan Lake, as they posed a danger to

swimmers and the people coming there for Ganesha idol immersion.

For several years, a notice put up at the lake warned people about the

crocodiles, but no action was taken to shift them. Pachpute has agreed

to act on Davkhare's directives and said experts from Hyderabad will be

summoned to capture the crocodiles and shift them elsewhere.

However, environmental activist Mayur Kamat said: " The lake is

surrounded by buildings. Crocodiles come out of water to bask in the

sun. But here, they are unable to do so. Crocodiles are schedule I

animals and must be protected. "

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