India, July 17 -- Ravindra Waikar, Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai North-West, has written to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), urging immediate intervention in the rapid rise of constructions around Vihar and Powai lakes. The MP has pointed out that the construction directly violates the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) as well as a Bombay high court 2022 order on the protection of Powai Lake.

According to the MP, illegal construction activity in the ecologically sensitive areas surrounding Powai Lake, Paspoli and Vihar Lake is posing a serious threat to Mumbai's urban wildlife habitat. The Powai Lake region and its surrounding areas serve as an important breeding zone and habitat for crocodiles, a species protected under Schedule I...