Santragachhi Wetland - An Avian Hotspot Amidst Jungle of Concretes

Santragachhi Jheel (22.580°N, 88.269°E), the winter home for thousands of short and long distance migratory birds, is a freshwater lake (area 12.75 ha) situated beside the crowded and noisy Santragachhi Railway Station in the outskirts of Kolkata. Located on the west bank of river Hooghly, the area is owned by the South-Eastern Railways and has been looked after by the State Forest Department. It is surrounded by dense human habitations, railway yards and small-scale industrial complexes. The jheel has several small islands, prolific water-hyacinth and large trees along its banks. Apart from the macrophytes, it supports a rich variety of macro-invertebrates and fishes. Several species of resident birds like White-breasted Water Hen, Common Moorhen, Little Cormorant, Indian Shag, Bronze-winged Jacana, Cattle Egret, White-breasted Kingfisher, etc., also breed there. Among the common migratory birds spotted in the lake are Lesser Whistling Duck, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveler, Garganey, Comb Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose and others. Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) was the most abundant species and was found to be evenly distributed over the entire jheel. This birds' paradise is facing immense threat from industrial effluents, domestic sewage and excessive growth of emergent and floating vegetation affecting the waterfowl population. Recently, the scenario in the vicinity of the lake has significantly changed as new high-rise buildings are rapidly coming up in this area. The condition of the lake is so crucial that it may soon be wiped out unless the situation is improved. Proper management of the area is essential for conservation of avifaunal diversity of this nationally important, urban wetland.