Pashan lake: protected place for birds,popular for idol immersion

Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) project to make Pashan lake a protected place for local and migratory birds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is on,the civic body seems to have failed to keep a check on Ganesh idol immersion in some parts of the lake that makes for a potential threat to the delicate ecosystem of the wetland. On the Sutarwadi side of the lake,a board reads,“Ganeshmurti visarjanasathi (for Ganesh idol immersion).” Behind the temple on the edge of the lake,nirmalya (leftovers of the pooja),polyethene bags and thermacol decorative pieces can be seen floating. Though we cannot see hundreds of Ganesh idols immersed in this shallow part of lake.

Vijay Dahibhate,deputy municipal commissioner for zone I,said he is unaware of this. “This is certainly wrong and needs to be stopped immediately. We will conduct an inquiry and take action as soon as possible. It is a big threat to the delicate environment of the lake,especially when we are planning to develop it,” he said.

The PMC has also provided a plastic container and a garbage carrier at the spot which clearly suggests that officials had anticipated that people would come here to immerse the idols. Pramod Singh,a security guard at the spot,said,“ At least 75 to 100 idols are immersed here every day. On the last day,more than 300 idols would be immersed.”

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Dharmaraj Patil,an environmental researcher,said,“While the PMC has even built a track for visitors to watch birds here,it is ironic that it fails to check this kind of an environment threat. Pashan lake is an important wetland and such acts can permanently damage its ecosystem.”

Jayant Kulkarni,director of Envirosearch,an environment research organisation,said once the PMC has taken a decision to develop the area as a protected place for birds and other species,allowing people to immerse idols is a contradiction.” Chief Environment officer with PMC,Mangesh Dighe,added,“There has to be a check on such immersions”