Crocodile tears into vacation tourism profits

The MTDC said it would lose anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh during this season if the authorities do not nab the intruder at the earliest. A group of visitors had spotted the crocodile in the historic Katraj Lake in November last year. The news had created panic among the public and the MTDC boating service was suspended immediately.

The authorities of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park had earlier made plans to nab the reptile. However,PMC commissioner Praveensinh Pardeshi said no plan of action has been finalised so far. He said the MTDC will be given some alternative land to run its business. “We have not yet decided on a plan. We have decided to give MTDC an alternative land so that they do not have to stop their business.”

S B Phadtare,manager of MTDC’s Katraj boating facility,said it will lose a good part of their income — as May gives the maximum revenue in a year — if the civic authorities do not catch the reptile by the end of April. “Along with the boating facility,we have also been running a canteen on the premises. And lately,we have started selling more food items at the canteen to augment our income,” he said.

Organisations and individuals have demanded that the boating should not be resumed unless the crocodile is captured.

“We will launch agitations if the facility is started again without capturing the crocodile. We do not want any kind of risk to human lives. If the MTDC feels it will lose money,it should put pressure on the civic body,” Chandan Suratwala of the All-India Anti-Corruption Committee said.

Kazveen Umrigar,director of the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park,had told Newsline a few months ago that they will wait till the summer heat brings the water level down before venturing out to nab the crocodile.