PAWS-Mumbai opposed two major projects in Mumbai

"Municipal Corporation should care for flora and fauna of Mumbai and bird Sanctuary will support illegal trade".

- Sunish Subramanian Kunju : Environment & Animal Activist
 

 MUMBAI : Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) an NGO working for conservation of flora and fauna in and around Mumbai opposed two major projects proposed by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. In letters addressing to Municipal Commissioner and Superintendent of Gardens – MCGM and copy of which have send to Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forest – Govt. of India, Hon’ble Minister for Environment - Govt. of Maharashtra and other consent authority.

PAWS-Mumbai Activist Sunish Subramanian Kunju said it’s high time for us to save flora and fauna in Mumbai, as we are day by day losing our green cover areas some under the name of beautification, development and other reasons, why the authority is not thinking of flora and fauna. Mumbai Municipal Corporation is failed to maintain Mumbai Zoo, we as a citizen of Mumbai witness the death of animals there every years. Beside that now Municipal Corporation is planning to develop Birds Sanctuary or Park is Powai Mumbai so we have opposed both the projects.

Below is the Letter which we have sent in related to Strong objections to the proposed development of "Bird Sanctuary / Park" at Powai or in Mumbai

This is to lodge our strong objections against the proposed construction of two "Bird Sanctuaries / Park" in Powai or in Mumbai.

We fail to understand the logic of such a project which entails buying birds - local and exotic and then imprisoning them in cages for the viewing "pleasure" of citizens and tourists.  This surely would be an encouragement to the poaching mafia which would get activated to procure these birds from the wild by laying traps, apprehending them and transporting them to the city for retaining them in cages.

This is against the order of nature and against the various wildlife protection laws.  

We do not see any advantage for executing these project since it entails catching birds, caging them, constructing large cages etc all at public expense.  Who benefits from these projects? No one but the poaching mafia, the developers of these cages and "sanctuaries" and everyone else involved in sanctioning the funds in the govt. who suffers? The citizens and the birds. Such project just benefits the builders to increase the property value. 

We urge you to kindly re-consider these projects in the larger interest of the citizens and the poor birds and animals. Kindly call us for a hearing before you decide to take any further steps on these projects.

Below is the Letter which we have sent in related to Strong protest against proposed chopping of more than 400 trees for the water pipeline laying / replacing project at Bhandup Complex.

We wish to lodge our strong protest against the proposed chopping of more than 400 trees during the execution of the above project.  As per the information received and from the newspaper reports it is apparent that no study, survey or application of mind has been done during the planning stage in order to save the trees and or plant sufficient number of trees in the vicinity of the project prior to chopping of the trees.

This is against the interest of the citizens and the greenery which is badly needed to retain the value of the Sanjay Gandhi National park - SGNP which attracts multitude of birds, animals, insects and has its own ecosystem.  The presence of SGNP in the vicinity of Mumbai is boon to Mumbaiites. The Park attracts clouds due to which Mumbai is blessed with adequate rainfall during monsoon and thus gets enough water for use of its inhabitants.

So we request you to seek objections, suggestions on this project and then execute this project with adequate care so as to do minimum harm to the flora and fauna in the project area.

We request you to kindly call us for a hearing before you take any further steps on this project.

 In past PAWS-Mumbai have given Suggestion “Need for displaying detail of trees along with Plot no. and CTS no. in every residential / commercial building” to MCGM Tree Authority on 19 Aug 2013 and in this regards Mumbai Mayor Mr. Sunil Pradhu have also written a letter on 10 September 2013 to Superintendent of Gardens / Tree Office in this regards but till now we have not received any response of the authority or our suggestion have put-up in Tree Authority Committee Meeting or NOT.

For more information please call Mr. Sunish Subramanian Kunju who is Founder & Secretary : Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (AWS-Mumbai) | Editor : Plant & Animal Voice – Newsletter | Hony. Animal Welfare Officer : Animal Welfare Board of India, Govt. of India | Hony. Animal Welfare Officer : Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra on +91 9833480388 / +91 9892179542

PRESS RELEASED BY :

Nisha Kunju

PRO – Cum – Administrator

www.pawsmumbai.org