Depleting Green Cover in Urban Areas

To accommodate the exploding urban population and ever increasing land requirement, urban areas are rapidly turning into concrete jungles. This is cause for alarm among environmentalists.

Expanding Urban Footprint

At the northern most end of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with the Thane creek on its west side, the Kalyan creek on the north and Parsik Hills towards the east, lies Kalwa, a suburb of Thane. Until about 5 years ago, the entire region was sparsely populated and had extensive green cover. Most of the area consisted of unused agricultural plots, belonging to the resident population (sthaniks, as they are called). 

These unoccupied and unused plots were densely covered by almost impenetrable thickets consisting of a variety of plant species. Part of the land was also marshy and overgrown with tall grasses and reeds. The region was home to a wide variety of bird species. Pond Herons, Cattle Egrets, Moorhens could easily be spotted in the area.

Due to exorbitant land prices in Mumbai and Thane, there has been an increasing demand for affordable housing further north. The relatively low land prices in this suburb has resulted in rapid real estate and infrastructure development in the past 5 years. 

And as residential population increased, so did the road infrastructure. 

Wide 4-laned roads have replaced smaller single and double-lane roads. Increasing instances of chain snatching incidents has led to better street lighing even on internal roads.

The unused, wooded plots are being replaced by multi-storied buildings and marshy land is being reclaimed by debris dumping.

Fruit bearing and flowering trees still attract small birds such as warblers, tailor-birds, bulbuls (red-vented, red whiskered and the occasional white-cheeked), barbets, orioles, sunbirds, crag martins, the non-resident green bee-eaters, drongos, along-side the more adaptable species like koels, mynas and parakeets (both rose-ringed and alexandrine). 

However, it will not be long before even these isolated pockets of trees lose their ground and make way for concrete buildings.

Adverse impact on the environment:

All this development has its adverse effects; bright lights and constant traffic have driven away the barn owls.  Reduction in green cover has directly impacted a variety of species in the area, with a marked decline in large birds like hornbills. Hoopoes have almost disappeared from the area and the migratory shikra is rarely spotted.

Road-side (illegal) garages have sprung up all over to cater to the ever-increasing vehicular numbers. The waste generated by these units is dumped down the drain or let out in the open, causing land and ground water pollution.

When localized development in a small part of the suburb, approximately about 4sq km in area, can have such an impact, imagine the effects of such development on a much larger scale. The creation of the new link road (GMLR) through SGNP or presence of metro car-sheds in the Yeoor Hills will affect several hundreds of acres of agricultural and forest land. Long term impact of such unbridled development is hard to predict. It may even affect temperature and rainfall patterns in a much wider region.

Is there a solution to the problem?

While development cannot be stopped, the authorities can compensate by creating large forested parks in the affected regions, off-setting the impact of lost green cover. Better public transportation system will encourage a shift from personal transport to buses and metro rail. Creation of dedicated cycle-tracks would provide a safe and economical alternative to motorcycle and scooters, and help mitigate the problem to some extent. It is only through sustainable development that we can hope to survive the coming decades and avoid environment catastrophe. 

Save the environment, save India; remember the immortal lines by Mark Twain, following the equator -

"So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked".

Sarus Crane

It is always a pleasure when you spot birds which you have only heard about or seen in pictures in close proximity, especially birds like the Sarus Crane.
 

Physical features 

Sarus Cranes are tall, reaching upto 1.6M in height, the females identical to males but slightly smaller. They are slender and stately in appearance with overall greyish-white plumage, thin red legs and red upper neck and head, sporting a white crown. Its tail is whiter than the rest of body.
Viewed from a distance, the white spot behind the eyes often is mistaken for its eyes.

Habitat and food 

Sarus cranes move around in pairs, very often with juveniles, and are seen in open cultivated fields and grasslands adjoining water bodies. They feed on insects, berries, seeds grains, small reptiles and frogs abound in the wet grasslands. They are familiar with human presence in cultivated fields and can be closely approached without being alarmed.

Distribution 

These are non-migratory resident birds, widely distributed in northern and central India. They usually nest in isolated wet and marshy areas to avoid predators.

Photograph location: Near Sanand, Gujarat (en route to Nal Sarovar)

 

 Let us reduce usage of paper; help save the forests

Thol Bird Sanctuary

For naturalists and birders, a visit to Ahmedabad would be considered incomplete without  visiting the famed Nal Saraovar. However, not many are aware of another bird sanctuary, easily accessible from Ahmedabad.  It is about 30 km from Sarkhej and can also be reached via Sanand.

In comparison to Nal Sarovar, the fresh water lake is quite small, only about 7 sq km, but size does not matter in this case. As it is located off the state highway and the road leading to the sanctuary is narrow and poorly maintained, it is not very crowded, except for groups of kids bunking college. On weekends, with the large number of two wheelers on road, it would be easy to mistake it for a college road.

There is adequate parking space available at the base of an embankment beyond which is located the small lake. A flight of steps will lead one up to the viewing spot and also to mud paths on either side, along the periphery of the lake. There is no boating facility, may be because the lake waters are unsafe. This makes it a good place for bird watching, as it is yet unknown and uninteresting to the regular tourists. 

The lake, with reeds, long grass, and dense growth of aquatic plants providing food in the form of fish, frogs, tadpoles and insects, is home to several species of aquatic birds. The wet and marshy surroundings prevent anyone from venturing too close to the birds and this affords the birds the much needed seclusion and protection from poachers.

Grey Heron

Common Moorhen

Glossy Ibis

 

Red-naped Ibis

Spot Bill Duck

Purple Heron

Pelicans

The monsoon has been weak until now. Pray for good rains in the next phase.

Save water; it has to last for another 11 months.

 

Nal Sarovar

Continued from previous post on LRK

The initial excitement of spotting the wild-ass had worn off and by mid-morning, the heat became almost unbearable. The sun shone blindingly bright and made photography difficult. Head and eye protection against the sun is recommended, as a trip to the mudflats also involves walking over long distances.

Nal Sarvovar

 
It is possible to visit Nal Sarvovar on the same day after LRK, if you have a vehicle at your disposal. February is the best time of the year to visit this large lake with clear fresh water. 

The lake is spread over 120 square kilometers and has a maximum depth of 1.5 meters. It is densely covered with reeds and under water vegetation, making it an ideal nesting location for an extremely large number of migratory birds.
 

Boats are available on hire throughout the day and charged on hourly basis.

Grey Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Greater Egret

Glossy Ibis

Setting Sun (view from the island in Nal Sarovar)

Pond Heron

Purple Moorhen

Sarus Crane


Reduce your carbon foot-print. help save the environment

Wheatear

(Visit to LRK - continued from previous post) As we proceeded further into the mudflats, the landscape became drier with lesser vegetation and fewer watering holes. In one of the waterholes, we spotted a lone Pelican. 

Pelican with Pied Avocet

 

And as the sun rose up, it became increasingly hot and uncomfortable.

Even in these dry surroundings, we sighted numerous birds: the Indian Bushlark, Desert Wheateater, Hume’s Wheateater, Eyebrowed Thrush, Green Bee-eater and several small birds which I was unable to identify.

Indian Bushlark

Desert Wheatear

 

Hume's Wheatear

 

Eyebrowed Thrush

 

Small Green Bee-eater

This year, the monsoon is predicted to be below normal in most parts of India. Fore-warned is fore-armed: I hope the government initiates measures to handle the shortage. Now is the time to prepare for cloud-seeding, so that we have the necessary ingredients and the aircraft ready to take to the skies when conditions are ideal.

Meanwhile, let us do our bit: save water, save ourselves.