More than 740 people protest to save Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE: Residents of Pune formed a human chain from Gunjan Chowk to Shastrinagar Chowk and walked to protect the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary from the haphazard implementation of infrastructure projects which includes the Metro project.

The experts and bird watchers forming the human chain stressed that the sanctuary was alive as over 100 birds, including 35 species of butterflies were recently spotted.

Dharmaraj Patil, wildlife researcher and photographer as well as the coordinator of the protest, explained that they are not opposing the infrastructure project but implementation should be planned without disturbing the natural habitat, which is also an oxygen park for the city.

Making the road middle of the area will hamper nature. It will restrict the birds flying space and cutting off the trees will impact their nesting habitat.

PMC had been informed about illegal tree cutting. PMC needs to be proactive to save the sanctuary from further damage.

Residents and bird watcher have formed a forum to take various steps to protect the biodiversity.

Pune-based ornithologist, Prakash Gole brought the Salim Ali protest together. The protest included some foreigner residing in Kalyani Nagar, 83-year-old Jawaharlal Baphna, was the senior most protester. School children and senior citizens participated in the silent protest in significant numbers.

Former Miss World 1999, Yukta Mookhey, was also part of the protest.