Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Thane has decided to oppose the decision to relocate two crocodiles in Upavan Lake in Thane.
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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