Mumbai: Stop cycle track work at Powai Lake, citizens appeal to BMC

MUMBAI: Amidst slogans like `BMC hosh mein aao!' (BMC, come to your senses), the nature lovers and activists demonstrated at the Ganesh Ghat of Powai lake on Sunday in order to demand that the municipal corporation stops the cycle track work for the sake of the lake's biodiversity.
Powai resident and activist Tabrez Ali Sayed said, "We will continue our peaceful agitation in order to make the BMC realize the damage they are causing to the environment by constructing this cycle track in the water.Many locals and environmentalists are opposing the cycle track as it will also disturb the Indian marsh crocodiles who live inside the waterbody."
Besides banners that stated `Save Powai Lake' and `BMC, you are on the wrong track', the demonstrators also urged the state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray to scrap the cycle track project.
'Aarey humne jeeta hai; Powai bhi hum jeetenge!' (We have earlier saved trees at Aarey Colony; now we will also win to save Powai lake) was another slogan raised at the event which concluded on a musical note with some participants playing drums and singing songs of mother nature.
"Citizens want to know what is the emergency or the tearing hurry to build this road which cuts through the water at Powai lake. Whatever technology that BMC claims to be using for it, it will further reduce the size of the lake that will lead to flooding. Government must not tamper anymore with Powai lake if they care for nature and wildlife," said activist Amrita Bhattacharjee.