Mumbai: Residents of Juinagar, Navi Mumbai have been spooked by crocodiles that they allegedly saw in a local creek and have asked the forest department to take precautionary measures. Residents said they had spotted two crocodiles thrice in a single week. The forest department said one of the reptiles might have strayed into the creek waters from Sanpada and said that it may soon put up hoardings near the water channel to alert residents about the presence of the crocodiles.
Saumit Sharma, a 26-year-old resident of Juinagar, said he first saw that crocodile 6 am one day. He said, “ I was taking my morning walk on a road that is near the nullah. I saw a big creature coming out from the bushes. When I went close to the edge of the nullah, I was shocked to see the 6 to 7-foot-long crocodile. She was moving her mouth menacingly.”
Mukesh Bhanushali, an activist who has been looking into the matter, claimed, “A year ago we saw one of these crocodiles in the Sanpada nullah and I brought the issue to the forest department’s attention. They didn’t believe me at first but, later, I managed to click a photo of the crocodile after spending two days standing near the nullah with my camera. I sent the picture to the forest department and kept following up constantly after which its officials inspected the area and put up several barricades and boards alerting residents about the danger.”
Mr Bhanushali added, “I recently came to know Juinagar locals had spotted two crocodiles. I have informed the forest department.”
A senior forest official, Jitendra Ramgavkar, who is in charge of the Navi Mumbai area, said, “We haven’t received any application from residents about their sighting crocodiles near the Juinagar nullah. We know about the Sanpada crocodile. Maybe it had gone to Juinagar, as the same nullah runs through Sanpada and Juinagar. We will definitely take the necessary precautions once everything is confirmed.”
