Amidst much hue and cry created over probable disaster due to the proposed Sewri-Nhava sea link, Srushti Dnyan, a city based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has come forward with the solutions to the problem.
In a meeting with senior forest department officials to discuss conservation activities in the area, the NGO has proposed to declare the three square km Sewri-Mahul coastal wetland area as Protected Area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “The coastal wetland of Sewri is an important habitat for flamingos, other migratory and local bird species due to the availability of blue-green algae and crustacean animals as food,” said Prashant Shinde, executive director of Srushti Dnyan.
“Flamingos and other migratory birds are precious and they must be protected. It is high time that any concrete step was taken to protect the avian fauna,” said SA Thorat, chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Mumbai. “The proposed trans-harbour sea link will destroy the food chain on which all the birds depend. The disaster can very well be averted if the sea link is realigned around 800 meters to south from its current location,” said Shinde. The NGO has also proposed creation of permanent conservation and education centre, developing educational literature and teaching aid, mangrove trail, field study visit, bird watching for conservation of avian fauna.
The NGO is actively involved in conservation of birds in Sewri and has recorded presence of 131 species of birds including Indian cormorant, grey heron, greater and lesser flamingos, black-headed, godwits, plovers, sandpipers, red shanks, green shanks, gulls, terns, curlew, kite shikra, osprey, eagle. Wetlands are considered as one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the world. The coast of Sewri and Mahul is known as one of the important coastal wetland areas, Shinde said. “The suggestions by the NGO are excellent and would be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest after minor changes,” Thorat said.