KARNALA STAFF WILL REMOVE MUCK FROM WATERING HOLES

NAVI MUMBAI: Birds at Karnala bird sanctuary may not get enough water as water holes made at various spots to collect rainwaterisfilledwithmudafter a landslide in the first week of August.

Forest officials will remove themuckandsoiltoensurebirds get water.

Pradeep Chavan, forest official, Karnala bird sanctuary, said, “Many winter birds will start coming in. The work of removing debris will start soon.”

He said the work, which will cost Rs5 lakh, will take time as the area affected by the landslide ishuge.“Itisaslopeandworking on such terrain is difficult,” said Chavan.

The forest officials feel that extended monsoon and erratic downpour has already affected the schedule of the visitor birds.

Officials have got support from NGOs in removing muck and have appealed to nature lovers to contribute.

A small pond has been built and artificial depressions made to collect rain water.

“Wehavetoremovethemuck else we might have to get tanker water supply,” said an official.

INSTALLNOHONKING SIGN

Karnala bird sanctuary is located off Mumbai-Pune Expressway and there is continuous honking in the area.

The forest officials have asked highway authority to install no honking signs near the sanctuary area.

Chavan said, “Off late, there honking has increased, disturbing the peace and quiet atmosphere. We have asked highway officials to install signages indicating that this is no-honking zone.”

Environmentalist Isaac Kehimkar said, “If a highway is near a sanctuary, the speed limit andno-honkingwarningshould be displayed.”

MANY WINTER BIRDS WILL START COMING INTO THE SANCTUARY. THE WORK OF REMOVING DEBRIS FROM WATERING HOLES WILL START SOON