Crocodiles in lake, forest dept tells BMC to avoid visarjan at SGNP

With Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) officials declaring its water body used for Ganesh idol immersion as risky for immersions due to presence of crocodiles, the BMC has begun trying to convince mandals as well as others households to avoid SGNP.

As per sources in the forest department, the last few meetings held with BMC R/Central ward officials along with the police, they have made it clear that they will not take any responsibility in-case there is any crocodile attack on anyone. "We have written to the BMC that it will be their responsibility in case some major incident happens. On the other hand they have insisted while they will try to dissuade people from carrying out immersion inside the park yet all arrangement should be ready in-case the visarjan has to be carried out here under public pressure," said a senior forest official, adding that ideally BMC should put their foot down and not take any risk.

There have been continuous reports since June this year about crocodiles being spotted in several water bodies, including two big ones from the boating area where visarjan is carried out. In fact, the forest department even rescued some crocodile hatchlings and even have set up traps for the bigger ones but so far none have been trapped.

The BMC has already installed light and made other arrangements inside the park, which has upset the forest department officials. "On one hand they say they don't want immersion here on other all arrangements have been made. During a meeting when we told BMC officials that no one should enter the water body for visarjan they said they will use small boats and ensure that they don't let anyone into the water," said another official, adding that we have no clue as how will BMC and police manage to stop people from entering the waters if the water body will be open for immersion and that is the reason why the forest officials were demanding complete ban on immersion here. All the idols could be diverted to the artificial pond constructed at Abhinav Nagar, which is near SGNP, said the forest official.

However, on other hand BMC is taking each step cautiously after forest department's warning. Kishore Gandhi, assistant commissioner of R–Central ward said that the after SGNP officials caution the ward has started making all the alternative arrangements for the artificial immersion ponds in Borivali East. Ward office has swung in action to create awareness about the new plan.

"We have started communicating with the mandals and residential societies about possible danger posed by crocodiles in the water body and that the forest officials have strictly recommended people to stay away from it.

Apart from dissemination of information about creating additional facilities for immersions in artificial ponds in the area, we are also distributing pamphlets and handouts in the ward to give exact location of artificial ponds," said Gandhi, adding that last year there were only two artifical ponds in Borivali East, but this time around the ward has added three new locations and that too with more capacity.

Admitting that it would be a herculean task to convince people about the immersion in artificial ponds, the assistant commissioner claimed that ward office had to prepare plan B as well if they find that people are still going ahead for immersion in National Park.

"From Borivali East alone, last year, there were more than 4,400 idols immersed at SGNP. Out of which only 900 were of mandals and the remaining 3,600 idols were from households. This year the number may increase. To reach all of them will be tough job but we are trying to mobilise all our resources but people have their religious sentiments and we cannot predict what would happen at last moment. But we have sought the help of police department also," said Gandhi.

Chief Conservator of Forest and Field Director of SGNP Vikas Gupta said that they have cautioned the BMC and police about how they have not been able to rescue the crocodiles and they posed risk to people coming for visarjan. "The BMC and police have assured us of taking all safety steps and hence we have given them permissions. Now, that the BMC says they don't want to have immersions we will only welcome the move," he said.

Locations for artificial ponds in Borivli East

1) Ground near Hemraj High School
2) municipal ground opposite Tata Steel near Country Park Building (landmark near Suswagat Hotel)
3) Anantrao Bhosale Maidan, Tata Power House, Magathane
4) Civic Training Institute and Research Centre (CTIRC), Abhinavnagar
5) Ground near Shri Shri Ravishankar School