The park authorities have granted permission for visarjan on the condition that cops and BMC ensure no devotee enters the river or streams, due to sightings of crocodiles
If you want to do Ganpati visarjan at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), you will have to do it at your risk, because of crocodile sightings in the Dahisar river and stream. While the SGNP authorities were in no mood to allow visarjan in the park, they relented only on the condition that the police and BMC will ensure that no devotee enters the river or stream.
Around 6-8 crocodile hatchlings and their mother are frequently seen in the waters at SGNP. Pic/Naveena Mohan
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"Our opinion is that in order to avoid any human-crocodile conflict incident, the people who come to SGNP for Ganpati visarjan should go to a nearby visarjan point. It is a religious matter and we don't want any controversy, so the permission has been granted," said a Forest Department officer
Crocodile, hatchlings spotted
From past two months there have been frequent sightings of crocodiles in the stream and river that pass through the tourism zone. A month ago, a huge crocodile and its hatchlings were spotted at the boating area in the tourism zone of SGNP where Ganpati visarjan also takes place.
Youngsters play near the waters at SGNP despite the warning boards about crocodiles. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
mid-day had reported this ('SGNP alert after crocodile is spotted near picnic spot,' July 13). SGNP authorities have been on alert since then and two of the hatchlings were rescued and released in Tulsi lake in order to avoid human-crocodile conflict.
Warning signs
Huge posters and banners were also put up at various locations in SGNP requesting visitors not to venture into the waters, and tourists who did so were penalised. Given the huge number of devotees that visit the park during visarjan, SGNP authorities have requested the police and BMC authorities to ensure devotees stay away from the river. It is said that there are more than 6-8 crocodile hatchlings and their mother who are frequently seen in the waters and river passing through the tourism zone.
BMC says
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of R-central (Borivli) Kishor Gandhi said, "The authorities from SGNP had written a letter to us to make arrangements outside the park since the crocodiles were spotted near the lake. We have made special arrangements at five other places for smooth immersion and we appeal to the people to visit these places for immersion."
These five places are at Magathane, Kulupwadi, CTIRC, near Hemraj High School and near Suswagat Hotel. The artificial ponds created at these places are for Ganpati idols of height 5-6 feet. Beyond that, the bigger Ganpati idols have been asked to be taken to Gorai Jetty.
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