Karmactive TeamKota, a town in Rajasthan, is famous for its coaching classes. But recently it was in the news for the death of nearly 50 mugger crocodiles in its KALA Talab. The Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) is coming up with a project in the area. So the pond is being filled with soil & fly ash resulting in the death of not only crocodiles but also other aquatic animals. Activists allege death of the crocodiles was triggered due to the developmental activity at the lake.
The conservationists fear that the pond itself may disappear in no time.The pond is huge, but it is not declared a wetland. So the wetland rules do not apply to it, giving freehand to the UIT authorities. However, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is applicable as. It concerns a schedule1 animal. A departmental probe has been demanded by a MLA.
NGT demanded a probe into the incident and had directed the local authorities to look into the matter. A committee made up of officials of urban improvement trust , forest dept & RPCB carried out the probe. As per the committee no evidence suggesting crocodile deaths were found. The NGT bench in Delhi was informed the same as the UIT officials defending their project elaborate their plan to accommodate the housing colony around the lake.
