Snakes taking to the suburbs!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 . Page 24

After the recent rains in the city, snakes are being founding increasing numbers in housing complexes. During the last three days, a PAWS-Mumbai team rescued seven snakes from residential areas of Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjur Marg, and the BARC Colony. Interestingly, most of the rescued snakes were non-venomous, like rat snakes, common wolf snakes, cat snakes and sand boas. According to wildlife experts, the city has witnessed major habitat destruction, which has resulted in animals like snakes and even at times, leopards, entering residential area located on the city’s outskirts. This monsoon, the PAWS team alone has rescued more than a hundred snakes from various housing localities in the suburbs.

According to Sunish Subramanian, founder of PAWS-Mumbai, “Since the last few years there has been an increase in the number of snake sightings in residential areas, especially in and around newly-constructed buildings.”

Subramanian however, said one reason why snakes are sighted in monsoons so frequently is that they breed some time just before the monsoon. “Their burrows or other dwelling places often get flooded forcing them to come out in the open. That is why so many baby snakes are also seen around this time.”

Narayan Rajpal, a Mulund resident, said “Our neighborhood has a lot of construction activity going on and we keep sighting snakes every other day, especially during the heavy rains.”

So as to avoid a shock:

Remove all piles of debris or garbage and trim unkempt bushes, as these are the most likely hiding places for snakes.

Fix nets on windows all over the house including the washrooms, and always keep the doors closed.

Keep pet birds away from windows and trim tree branches that touch or come to close to the windows.

Fill up all the rat holes in the compounds.

Youngsters save injured horse, PAWS evacuates

Page 3 . 13 September - 19 September '09

Powai - 13 September 09 : An aged horse had been abandoned by its owner had been straying on the Eastern Express Highway, just got narrowly missed being hit by a vehicle. A Samaritan informed PAWS about this, but the rescue team could not locate the animal in the area reported.

It was two days later again that PAWS got a call that an injured horse is roaming on the Lake Road in Bhandup. Sunish Subramanian of PAWS-Mumbai said, “We rushed to the spot and got the horse this time. We rescued it and evacuated the injured horse to the Animal Hospital in Parel.”

The horse had little blindness in one eye, and had injuries on the leg and back. The animal had gone meek and helpless of age.

In case you want to help an animal in distress call Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai, Helpline number 9833480388

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Environmentalists object proposed Musical Fountain at Powai Lake

06th September to 12th September 09 . Page 3

Powai - 06 September 09 : The musical fountain as part of the beautification of Powai Lake by BMC is not being taken well by environmentalists. They think that the corporation is turning a blind eye to their view point.

Nisha Subramanian of Plant & Animals Welfare Society Mumbai(PAWS-Mumbai)says, “ As we came to know about the Powai Lake Beautification Project in which they have proposed to three musical fountains in Powai Lake, we have taken objection on it and sent letters to all BMC authorities including Local MLA Naseem Khan too.”

In the letter they had written, “The construction of the musical fountain would endanger the existence of the marine life (fishes, turtle, crocodiles and other living beings) of the lake and also thwart the arrival of rare migratory birds in the lake. Already the up-gradation which is in progress is done by reclaiming land from the lake by dumping debris and soil on the fringes of the lake.

The presence of the water fountains etc in the lake would lead to presence of lots of visitors (and thus presence of more vehicles) in the vicinity of the lake which would in turn adversely affect the hygiene, noise levels, air pollution levels and traffic congestion”.
In this regard Vivek Pandit, a local resident and activist said, “ BMC is wasting money in the name of beautification of Powai Lake it's just to increase the market value of the property of few builders in the area. First thing BMC should do is to stop all the drainage that is coming from the residential complex into Powai Lake and as we have natural lake then why is BMC converting it into man made lake in the name of beautification. There are many development work which are very important to common public instead of which they are wasting public money in such useless work.”

Talking to this newspaper Naturalist Sunjoy Monga, said “I just want to say that anything that robs away the character of the lake should be avoided..... A musical fountain and accessories are not the most important things to save a lake...”

Bird Expert Adesh Shivkar said, “Mumbai has already witnessed massive destruction of its green cover and we are seeing the harsh consequence.... Instead of saving the remaining patches of biodiversity, we are further disturbing and degrading them. Powai is not just a lake, it is an excellent example of a rich biodiversity habitat that harbours several species of birds, fish, plant etc.... any change or disturbance to this will destroy this fragile and sensitive habitat irreversibly.... I think we have abused the nature enough.... Now let us leave the nature as it is. More than 100 Species of birds are found in Powai lake area..... Some are migratory which are sensitive to disturbance.... A musical fountain will certainly repel them from that place.... it is sad that the authorities give a deaf ear and continue to alter and abuse the landscape”.

Sanal Nair, a Powai resident and who recently took part in Mumbai Bird Race and was the part of team visited birds watching in Powai Lake area said, "People visit parks, ponds to enjoy the tranquility of the place. Setting up a musical fountain at the Powai Lake will defeat the very purpose. Also this lake is a haven for bird watchers which will also be affected. I hope better sense prevails and the lake is left untouched".