Increasingly the wetlands, lakes, ponds, etc are being either filled with debris for construction or they are being taken up for concretization under the guise of beautification by destroying its riparian/ floodplains /buffer zone and destroying its natural lake vegetation. This needs to stop as wetlands/lakes provide valuable ecosystem services and support a number of local flora and fauna (biodiversity).

Kavesar Lake, an ancient 150 year old wetland in Hiranandani Estate with a robust and functioning ecosystem has already been encircled with construction thereby reducing its catchment area & buffer zone.  A portion of Kavesar lake and a nearby pond has been filled up with debris and its natural vegetation and trees near the water body destroyed due to landscaping and so-called beautification in the past too.  The question to be asked here is - Does nature require human beings to beautify it?? Can they do a better job than Mother Nature? It is purely human hubris, human centrism and corruption that drives such foolish endeavors.

Be that as it may, lakes and ponds in Thane have been increasingly subjected to this beautification by concretization and their natural ecosystem destroyed in the name of jogging tracks and other facilities around the lakes disregarding that water bodies and their vicinity are home to a number of plant and animal species including water and terrestrial birds, reptiles, small mammals, amphibians, crabs, butterflies, bees, snails, worms and aquatic species.  

A functioning ecosystem is already existing in and around the ancient Kavesar Lake (now being exploited for a Beautification Project) with no regard to its unique habitat & biodiversity. The present biodiversity of the lake and its surrounding habitat needs to be protected from any concretization so that citizens can watch other species in their natural ecosystem and vegetation.  Bird watchers & residents have seen and photographed around 150 different species which includes birds like Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Asian Openbills, Waterhens, Ducks, Moorhens, Coots, Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Kingfishers, Storks, Flycatchers, Raptors, Barbets, Bulbuls, Munias, Sunbirds, Owls, Bats Parakeets etc. Mammals like the elusive India Grey Mongoose and Indian Palm Squirrels are spotted here. Besides this various reptiles, amphibians, lizards, insects, fishes make-up the biodiversity of the Kavesar Lake.

Kavesar Lake is the only lake in Thane where rare white lotus has been growing naturally for many generations and is a sight to watch.

If this last remaining natural water body of Thane City and its rich ecosystem is not preserved in its natural form then no lakes or ponds will be left for habitation of non-human species near you. Don't deprive our next generation of being able to grow watching such wonderful natural ecosystem and its biodiversity.  Such water bodies act as sponges reducing the impact of floods, mitigates urban heat, purifies air, sequesters carbon & recharges the depleted groundwater of Thane.

PM Modi in his “Mann ki Baat” has directed officials and citizens to protect and save water bodies and wetland habitats due to its unique ecosystem services.

Therefore, it is our duty in this era of global warming, climate change, heat waves, water shortages to protect lakes and wetlands and the biodiversity depended on such vital habitats.

Thane Wetlands - shocking details

Total Wetlands (Thane District) mapped by ISRO in 2011 - 1895 nos

Total notified under Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 as a “wetland” for protection till 2025  - Zero (0)

TMC & Thane District administration owes an explanation to the citizens of Thane as to why, despite ISRO mapping 1895 wetlands way back in 2011, till date not a single wetland has been notified for legal protection under Wetland Rules, 2017.

Note: Any wetland includes not only the "water body" but also its riparian zone, high flood line and buffer zone which is required to be demarcated by authorities.

Kavesar Lake is the last “natural” wetland of Thane City with a functioning habitat and diverse biodiversity.  Once any sort of human structures are erected or encroachment through concretization done around the water body, then it can never be declared as a wetland. Concretization plans under the guise of beautification not only destroys the wetlands riparian zone (critical habitat around the water body) but permanently disqualifies it from being considered as a wetland under the provisions of Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Call to Action-

1. Sign this petition
   2. Write emails to TMC Commissioner, Chief Minister, wetland and wildlife authorities to cancel the current concretization under the guise of beautification proposal and instead preserve lake in natural form for its biological diversity.
   3. Join movement "Save Kavesar Lake Citizens Movement" to preserve the last remaining "natural" wetland  in Thane City.
   4. Eminent Personalities, NGOs, Animal & Nature lovers to file written objections with above specified authorities.
   5. Spread awareness thru social media (use hashtag #savekavesarlake), nature walks, birding tours, etc.
   6. Use your influence to help save habitat/home for the “voiceless” biodiversity.

Follow Citizens Movement on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kavesarlake

Follow our @Savekavesar handle on X and like, retweet or comment on tweets to save Kavesar Lake from concretization

To join the Save Kavesar Lake Citizens Movement whatsapp group - https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ki2opOMpIrSD2GiUjyR58v

To know more - please also read the regular updates to the petition and the following articles:

1. https://citizenmatters.in/saving-kavesar-lake-citizens-campaign-thane-wetland/

2. https://en.themooknayak.com/environment/thanes-last-wetland-the-struggle-for-its-preservation-amid-indias-beautification-drive

Upcoming Event: 

Awareness on Wetlands - Online - Speaker Prof Clara Corriea (Zoologist & Wetland Specialist) - Date to be decided