Robbub: Adding new entry initial version

2023-03-22T17:48:16Z

Adding new entry initial version

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Panje Wetlands
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Nodal Town of Navi Mumbai
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|18.54|N|72.57|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon|IND}} [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Raigad district|Raigad]]
| established_title = 
| unit_pref = Metric
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_footnotes =<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=588858 | title = Maharashtra: Raigarh: Uran: Uran: Uran TOWN | year = 2011 | work = Census of India | publisher = Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | access-date = 12 March 2015}}</ref>

| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Panje-Dongri wetlands''' is located in the coastal town of [[Uran]], [[Navi Mumbai]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/clear-the-gateway-to-green-activist-to-move-court-over-panje-wetlands-in-navi-mumbai/story-YEl5S7mJBL7B90xELRtmLO.html|title=Clear the gateway to green: Activist to move court over Panje wetlands in Navi Mumbai|date=2018-10-09|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> in [[Raigad district|Raigad]] district of [[Maharashtra]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/Plan-to-protect-Uran-wetlands-visited-by-flamingos/articleshow/47399822.cms |title=Plan to protect Uran wetlands visited by flamingos|date=May 24, 2015 |first=Vijay |last=Singh |work=[[The Times of India]] |location=India |access-date=2019-09-16 }}</ref> It is a major bird watching site in [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/security-guards-at-uran-wetlands-irk-activists-fisherfolk/story-B889iUy5RPCaqesXCzdktI.html|title=Security guards at Uran wetlands irk activists, fisherfolk|date=2019-07-01|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> The wetland is home to 1.4 lakhs migratory birds in the winter. It is the last surviving wetland at Uran.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/cidco-opens-10-gates-to-allow-tidal-flow-to-panje-wetlands-in-navi-mumbai/story-mtFeCNwG6Aje5IauwH256H.html|title=Cidco opens 10 gates to allow tidal flow to Panje wetlands in Navi Mumbai|date=2018-10-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

The core wetland area at Panje covers 213 hectares and consists of foraging and roosting areas of several bird species. The buffer area of 157 hectares is [[mangrove]]s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/amp/metros/mumbai/041018/213-hectare-land-consist-of-roosting-areas-bnhs.html|title=213 hectare land consist of roosting areas: BNHS|publisher=[[The Asian Age]]|website=www.asianage.com|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> Panje consists of a mix of habitats including freshwater and saline [[Marsh|marshes]], reeds, mangroves, [[grassland]]s and scrub — make it a fine birding place.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.natureinfocus.in/indian-wildlife-information/10-places-to-go-birdwatching-mumbai|title=Top 10 Places To Go Birdwatching - Mumbai |website=www.natureinfocus.in|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

The Panje wetlands are notified and protected under the Maharashtra National Wetland Atlas 2011.<ref name=":0" /> In 2015, The State Wildlife Board approved the creation of a bird sanctuary at Panje-Funde near Uran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mumbai-wildlife-board-nod-to-3-bird-sanctuaries-around-city-2152820|title=Mumbai: Wildlife board nod to 3 bird sanctuaries around city|date=2015-12-07|website=DNA India|publisher=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

A film documenting the flora and fauna of this wetland was made by [[Aishwarya Sridhar]]-a young wildlife film maker. The film is called <nowiki>''</nowiki>Panje-The Last Wetland<nowiki>''</nowiki>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cat.org.in/portfolio/gates-at-panje-wetland-worries-eco-activists/|title=Gates at Panje wetland worries eco-activists – Conservation Action Trust|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Panje-The Last Wetland|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt9043866/|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref>

== Flora and fauna ==
The area is home to large numbers of coconut trees and mangroves. It is also the foraging and roosting area for several bird species like [[lesser sand plover]], [[curlew sandpiper]], [[little stint]], [[gull-billed tern]], [[brown-headed gull]],<ref name=":0" /> [[black-headed gull]], [[Heuglin's gull]], [[blue-tailed bee-eater]], [[lesser flamingo]], [[greater flamingo]], [[purple moorhen]], [[Eurasian curlew]], [[ruddy shelduck]], [[common shelduck]], [[Eurasian coot]], spot-billed bucks, [[pheasant-tailed jacana]], [[bar-tailed godwit]], [[black-tailed godwit]], ruff, marsh sandpipers,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mudflats-destruction-to-lead-birds-coming-in-way-of-navi-mumbai-international-airport-study/story-9SIu5Z6Rcd7cAPT4rVLoDO.html|title=Mudflats destruction to lead birds coming in way of Navi Mumbai International Airport: Study|date=2019-06-04|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> [[scaly-breasted munia]], [[tricoloured munia]], [[red avadavat]], [[Indian skimmer]], the Asian desert warbler, the bristled grassbird, [[Caspian plover]]<ref name=":3" /> and many more. Also, one can see as many as 800-900 [[flamingo]]es at Panje coastal village during the months of October–March.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/bird-watchers-report-sudden-increase-in-number-of-flamingos-visiting-uran-wetlands/articleshow/63176975.cms|title=Bird watchers report sudden increase in number of flamingos visiting Uran wetlands |date=March 5, 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

In 2018, two rare wetland birds of the species [[red-necked phalarope]] were seen at Panje after a gap of 15 years.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/navi-mumbai-red-necked-phalarope-seen-at-panje-in-uran-after-15-years/articleshow/65823736.cms|title=red-necked phalarope: Navi Mumbai: Red-necked phalarope seen at Panje in Uran after 15 years |date=September 15, 2018|first=Vijay|last=Singh |website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

Mammals include the [[Indian grey mongoose]], [[Gerbillinae|gerbil]], [[jungle cat]], [[Bengal fox|Indian fox]] and [[Golden jackal|Indian jackal]].

Reptiles found are the common rat snake, [[Indian cobra]], [[checkered keelback]], [[buff striped keelback]], [[African rock python|rock python]], [[common krait]], [[Russell's viper]] and [[Echis|saw scaled viper]].

== Fishing ==
Panje wetland is rich in terms of fish catch. The Uran wetlands serve as a fish breeding ground and the main livelihood of the local people is fishing.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/article/save-our-mangroves-once-300-acre-of-wetland-now-turns-barren-and-dry-land/396404|title=Save our mangroves: Once a 300 acre of wetland, now turns barren and dry|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>
[[File:Panje Wetland.jpg|alt=Panje Wetlands|thumb|Panje Wetlands]]

== Controversy ==
Around 85% of [[Uran]]’s wetlands have been destroyed.<ref name=":5" /> Recurring cases of mangrove destruction (9500 trees) and [[Land reclamation|reclamation]] of wetlands have happened at Uran. Recently illegal [[landfills]] are on the rise and the wetlands are being slowly assimilated in the coastal city. This unprecedented land development and urbanization are creating concerns about the impact on the environment. This is because the [[wetlands]] serve as a natural sponge absorbing excess rainfall and doing its bit to reduce [[pollution]]. Wetlands are under threat due to exponential expansion of real-estate projects in Mumbai Now a day, land encroachment and land alteration are the important aspect of threats for Panje wetlands and the [[Bombay Natural History Society]] (BNHS) had also published a report stating the protection of Panje wetlands due to its proximity to the [[Navi Mumbai International Airport]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/110219/greens-declare-panje-wetland-bird-sanctuary.html|title=Greens: Declare Panje wetland bird sanctuary|last=Telang|first=Sonali|date=2019-02-11|website=The Asian Age|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/amp/metros/mumbai/251118/villagers-block-tidal-flow-at-panje-to-create-cricket-pitch.html|title=Villagers block tidal flow at Panje to create cricket pitch|website=www.asianage.com|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

The wetland is a part of the Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone and in the entire wetland a boundary has been created by the economic zone.<ref name=":6" />

In September 2018, [[City and Industrial Development Corporation]] of [[Maharashtra]] shut the high tide water ingress to the Panje Wetlands.<ref name=":1" /> The barrier was built in the year 1991 with help from [[Indian Institutes of Technology|Indian Institute of Technology]], [[Mumbai|Bombay]] as a flood control mechanism. It shuts automatically during high tide and opens during low tide, remaining closed throughout the monsoon months. However, in the last week of September, some gates were damaged and the barrier was shut down, starving water supply into the mangroves.<ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/cidco-moves-to-revive-wetlands-in-navi-mumbai/story-McmiQWehUEQqLpo4Ou950I.html|title=Cidco moves to revive wetlands in Navi Mumbai|date=2018-10-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> Around 60% of the Panje wetlands dried up.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/asian+age-epaper-asianage/panje+wetlands+dry+again+greens+suspect+blockage-newsid-119016022|title=Panje wetlands dry again, greens suspect blockage|website=Dailyhunt|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> Navi Mumbai residents and environmentalists filed a complaint with the state highlighting the development corporation's actions. This led to the HC appointed state mangrove committee to issue directions to stop reclamation activities at Uran to protect bird habitats.<ref name=":4" /> On October 6, 2018, development corporation opened 10 of the 76 sluice gates.<ref name=":2" /> But environmentalists complained it wasn’t enough to sustain the wetland. Vanashakti (a non-governmental organization) filed a contempt petition against the development corporation under its original petition to safeguard wetlands in Maharashtra. On October 10, 2018, a day before the Bombay High Court appointed wetland grievance redressal committee was to hear the matter, the development corporation vice chairman and managing director instructed his engineering team to open the majority of the gates at Panje. Seventy gates were opened and the wetland, mangroves, and holding pond area were partially restored.<ref name="hindustantimes.com"/>

Panje is the last surviving wetland of Uran.<ref name=":7" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Geography of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Wetlands of India]]

Panje-Dongri wetlands - Revision history

Robbub: Adding new entry initial version