Ensure safety of birds at Panje, Collector, CIDCO told

A screenshot of a video showing a man setting off crackers to trouble migratory and native birds at Panjet wetland in Navi Mumbai

Hours after this newspaper published a report on attempts to scare away birds from Panje wetland in Uran, the Mangrove Cell of the forest department asked the Raigad collector and local planner CIDCO on Wednesday to put an end to the nuisance.

In a letter to the authorities, member-secretary Neenu Somraj, who is also a deputy conservator of forest, said that the Panje wetland has ecological significance as it is a destination for several species of migratory birds. Somraj is also a member-secretary of the high court-appointed Wetland Grievance Redressal Committee.

In its report of September 8, mid-day had cited a complaint by a wildlife photographer and filmmaker about some people targeting the birds in Navi Mumbai.

"We have received a complaint filed by wildlife lover Aishwarya Sridhar in which she has alleged that some private security guards posted at Panje wetland are scaring away thousands of birds by bursting firecrackers," reads Somraj's letter.

It goes on to say, "Panje wetland is an important area as many migratory birds come here and various NGOs including BNHS and wildlife lovers have been demanding that this area should be given a protection status. The Collector Office and CIDCO should see to it that the Panje wetland is protected and no one scares away the birds again. A report of the steps and action taken should be also sent to Mangroves Cell."

Also Read: Incidents of using firecrackers to scare away birds in Panje wetlands continue

In its report, mid-day said that some people had been caught on camera using firecrackers at wetland, forcing flocks of birds to disperse in distress. Earlier, nature lovers from Navi Mumbai had also written to the chief minister demanding strict action against the trouble-makers.

B N Kumar, director of NGO NatConnect Foundation was elated. He said, "This is a welcome development as the Mangrove Cell takes note of the need to conserve the wetland and we hope that the state government will take steps to save the biodiversity for which we have been campaigning."

Aishwarya Sridhar and B N Kumar are among those who had written to the CM about the plight of birds at the Uran wetland. Kumar said, "These elements and their masterminds are apparently keen to kill the wetland and convert it into a barren land and then convert it into a concrete jungle."