Just a 20-minute drive from Kolkata lies this 13,75,000 sq feet lake, known as the Santragachi jheel or lake. The Santragachi lake is a great place for many migratory birds. Winter months (October to March) draw 4000 to 5000 ducks and waders to this safe haven. This season thousands of Lesser Whistling Ducks arrived along with Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, the endangered Ferruginous Pochard, Common Teal, Cotton Pygmy Goose and other waterfowl.
What is really the key feature of Santragachi is the protection that these birds receive at this small lake. The credit goes to the Indian Railways who own and maintain the lake and more particularly to the local residents who take pride in protecting the birds.
Sadly, this avian hotspot is surrounded by heavy garbage, consisting of plastic and other household waste getting dumped into and around the lake; not to mention washing of clothes in the lake and occasional loud music playing adjacent to it. Hope the railway authorities will be able to do something about the garbage in the lake. It could truly transform the lake!
Reference: Kolkata Birds.
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Santragachi lake is surrounded by heavy garbage, consisting of plastic and other household waste getting dumped into and around the lake; not to mention washing of clothes in the lake and occasional loud music playing adjacent to it.