SANTRAGACHHI: The city and its suburbs are yet to feel the nip in the air but here's a reason to feel happier. The first batch of migratory birds has already started flocking the Santragachhi Jheel. And they are here not in dozens or even hundreds. This time around, they have come in thousands, say happy residents along the Jheel.
The bird watchers are excited at the variety that is already here. While most of the winged visitors are lesser whistling teals from the Himalayas, it is easy to spot northern pintail ducks and gadwals, all trans-Himalayan breeds from northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America, as well.
However, everything is not hunky dory at the Jheel. Though the birds are happily perching on the artificial island, mounds of uncleared garbage line up the 12-acre waterbody on all sides. Locals, despite being proud of the fact that Santragachi Jheel is now high on the ecological map, wantonly discard garbage into the water, which settles on the dried water hyacinth bed.
"While we try and dissuade residents, the real culprit is the Howrah Municipal Corporation. For the past five years, we have been asking for garbage vats," said an irate Jiban Saha, a senior member of Chottodal Club, which has been active to save the Jheel.
"Every winter you see NGOs come with forest department and corporation officials in tow. Seminars are organized where they promise vats and regular cleaning. But the promises are never kept," said a disgusted Subhashis Banerjee, who has decided to call the media o show how bad things are.
Residents are also upset that the forest department, the caretaker of the Jheel, has been cleaning the waterbody half-heartedly . More than 40% of the Jheel is covered with hyacinth and after over a month's cleaning job. "There is no time left. If a cleaning operation is launched now, birds will fly away," said Arjan Basu Roy , a bird enthusiast who runs Nature Mates, which was instrumental n cleaning up the Jheel in 2011-12.
Shyamal Mukherjee, deputy ranger of the social forestry division, admitted of the social forestry division, admitted hat the cleaning is not complete. "There was shortage of funds and we have app ied again. The sanctions are likely to come soon but we have to now carefully clean from one end so that birds are not dis urbed," he said.
Social activist Mudar Patherya, who had joined hands with Nature Mates four years ago, said, "If the forest doesn't do it soon, we will do it ourselves again."
Howrah Mayor Rathin Chakraborty was not willing to take the blame and squarely blamed the Railways. "The Jheel belongs to the Railways and they object if we try to put up vats. I am aware of the situation and we have already scheduled a meeting with the Railways his week," he said.
Source - Timesofindia
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