This lake is no ‘model spot’ for ducks

Model Colony Youth Club (MCYC), an organisation in Model Colony area, has alleged that the biodiversity of Lakaki lake in Model Colony is deteriorating owing to human interference and negligence.

The MCYC, comprising the youth living in the area, has observed that the number of birds visiting the lake has reduced considerably. They alleged that visitors throw garbage in and around the lake, which is harming the fish and ducks in the water body.

More than 200 spotbill ducks used to migrate to the lake in September-October every year. But when a DNA team visited the lake on Tuesday, only five to six ducks were seen in the lake.
“The number of birds has reduced considerably in the last few years. The visitors scare them off. The trees with branches spreading over the lake are gone. The birds feel secure with dense trees and shrubs, which is not there anymore, so it’s no more a favourite place for them,” club president Abhishek Deshmane said.

The lake, which is a nesting place for a variety of birds, has lost most of the indigenous trees which are now replaced with lawn and small shrubs. “There used to be a lot of natural grass around the lake where tortoises and birds laid eggs. Now this grass remains only in patches after the construction of the jogging track by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). They have planted ornamental shrubs which are not local species,” Deshmane said.

Some trees fell down during the monsoon this year, but no one knows who took away the logs, according to the club members. Consumable species of fish have been released in the lake and residents fear that it will lead to fishing.

“As natural grass around the lake is almost gone, tortoises lay eggs on the lawn developed by the PMC, and stray dogs or cats eat them. There is no security for the birds and amphibians,” he said.

The club has submitted a letter to the PMC garden department, urging it to plant indigenous trees and shrubs around the lake. They have also asked the civic body to conduct a systematic biodiversity study of the lake for record, and declare the surrounding area as ‘no hawking zone’.

Additional municipal commissioner and garden superintendent, Naresh Zurmure, said there was limited scope for development around the lake; yet the PMC was trying its best. He stated that indigenous trees were planted around the lake but would take time to grow.

“We have taken biodiversity into consideration while developing the lake. As far as the spotbill ducks are concerned, their number has increased in Pashan lake, which is a more peaceful place as compared to the Model Colony lake. Yet, I will look into the suggestions of the residents and see what can be done,” he said.