Gujarat to relocate crocodiles from Statue of Unity premises
Gujarat government to relocate the Crocodiles in the ponds near the Patel statue – Statue of Unity, for enabling the implementation of a sea plane project for the tourists.
There are around 500 reptiles in two ponds on the statue premises. It is reported that the forest department has removed 15 so far. The crocodiles are likely to be released at the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam reservoir.
The Airports Authority of India and the Department of Civil Aviation had prepared a feasibility report about the seaplane service in the run-up to the inauguration of the Statue of Unity.
“We are rescuing the crocodiles from Ponds 3 and 4, which are close to the site,” said K Sasi Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests in Narmada district. “We have put 10 teams of officials for the exercise.”
The crocodiles, which were baited into entering cages by using fish, were in the forest department’s custody for about a week. The department then decided to let them into the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam reservoir. Most of the animals will be released there, Kumar added.
It is a practice to release crocodiles captured from human settlements during the monsoon season in the Narmada dam ponds. Ajwa reservoir closer to Vadodara is home to hundreds of such reptiles.
Crocodiles being shifted in a steel cage
Meanwhile, Jitendra Gavali, the director of the Community Science Centre in Vadodara, said the transfer of crocodiles in such large numbers to pave the way for a seaplane terminal was against the principles of the Wildlife Protection Act.
“Moreover, releasing them into the dam reservoir would mean that the female crocodiles may not be able to nest if the slope of the dam is more than about 40 degrees. They need space on land to nest and also to come out of the waters during winter,” he added.