NAVI MUMBAI: The state biodiversity board has written to the PCMC after PhD student Tarang Sarin, a resident of Kharghar, wrote to the board with observations on the destruction of wetlands, grasslands in the area. Sarin has pointed out to authorities that wetlands in sectors 14 and 28 are slowly being destroyed, while miscreants set the Kharghar hill slopes on fire regularly. This according to Sarin affects the biodiversity, which depends on the wetlands and hill slopes.
Kharghar residents have therefore urged the civic and forest authorities to help preserve the natural habitats in their node.
Talking to TOI, Sarin said: "I have myself documented close to 168 bird species who visit Kharghar in different seasons. They depend on the local wetlands and forested hills; which is why it is vital to protect these natural habitats to preserve the biodiversity. I welcome the latest move by the Biodiversity board to intimate the municipal body to help towards this environmental cause."
He had recently written to the state biodiversity board on this issue, leading to the official intimation from the board to the Panvel civic body. When contacted by TOI, the PCMC commissioner, Sudhakar Deshmukh, said, "I have not yet seen the letter of the biodiversity board in this regard; so I will not be able to comment on it immediately."
Some of the 'threatened species' in the list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that are seen in Kharghar areas are Black Tailed Godwit, Greater Spotted Eagle, Curlew Sandpiper, which Sarin has personally photographed as well. He recently also presented a Ted Talk on the Biodiversity of Kharghar region and the threats it faces.
"Many green activists have raised the issue of destruction of mangroves, wetlands in and around Navi Mumbai. Kharghar is a node which is blessed to have so many waterbodies, wetlands and the forest hills. However, due to hectic development and encroachers, a lot of our bird-rich wetlands are disappearing. This is not good for the biodiversity and definitely not good for well being of Kharghar as a whole," said Sarin, who is researching on the earth sciences (geology) subject.
Environmentalist B N Kumar of NatConnect Foundation said: "Every species on this planet has an equal right to live and survive. There is a reason why they coexist with others and humans. So, when we humans try to cut down forests to build roads and rails, or bury wetlands to make buildings, there is an ecological imbalance that comes back to bite us. Experts have noted that the current Covid pandemic is largely due to the severe disturbances done to wildlife species like bats."