Pedalling through wetlands that feed & cleanse the city
On World Biodiversity Day, Calcutta Times took the off-road bicycling trails of the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW). We ventured on the trail with cyclists who frequent the e marshy fields and tree-laden groves, by the expansive water bodies – to rediscover the 'kidneys of Kolkata'.
It cleanses the city's wastewater naturally through its own ecosystem of ponds, algae and fish.
Kolkata is the only Indian metro to boast such a natural system – saving an approximate `500 crore per annum in the process (other metros, like Delhi, pay for wastewater treatment).
The wetlands, spread across 12,500 hectares, is an ecologically critical and biodiversity-rich ecosystem that also serves as a bicycling hotspot for a large section of the city's riders.
But this frail bubble needs better awareness – and the responsibility lies with us.
'Responsibility is key'
Wetland mornings see a fair share of recreational cyclists. The venue hosts a range of migratory bird species – which makes it a favourite haunt for birders, who gather around shallow ponds (bheris), mudflats or grassy embankments near Chinarpur, Bantala and Nalban.
All of this, however, needs to be handled responsibly.
Noise, littering, plastic waste – these are pollutants that elicit a strict no from environment organisations. 'While Ramsar recognition brought awareness, scientific interest and legal recognition to the EKW, it has not been sufficient to counteract the pressures of urbanisation and climate vulnerability,' said Sayantani Dutta of Jaladarsha Collective, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of waterbodies in and around Kolkata.
While there has been a rise in community groups and green NGOs conducting 'eco-cycling' tours to raise awareness from Khoriberia to Kheyadoho, ultimately, the onus to preserve the delicate balance of the EKW ecosystem is on us, as citizens.
Bicycles, the most important commute
Roads in and around the EKW are mostly unpaved — ideal for bikes, not cars. Bicycles act as the backbone of daily logistics in this delicate landscape.
This landscape, recognised as a Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance), is crucial to Kolkata's food security infrastructure. It supports over 20,000 local fisherfolk and farmers. Most of them use cycles to transport fresh fish and vegetables to local markets in Kolkata.
'Many local schoolchildren commute on cycles, keeping the carbon footprint low,' said Nobina Gupta, founder director of the Disappearing Dialogues Foundation.
With pukka roads comes the proliferation of auto-rickshaws, spewing noxious fumes. The Metro Railways, cutting through a part of the wetlands, pose another hazard in terms of noise, especially for crepuscular and nocturnal bird species.
EKW is also home to Indian Palm Squirrels, Fishing Cats and Indian Flapshell Turtles
Migratory birds sighted at EKW
Northern Pintail
Wood Sandpiper
Rosy Starling
Siberian Stonechat
Quotes:
Unregulated solid waste dumping has led to the water quality in the EKW being affected, with plastic pollution being a major threat to fish and aquatic plants – Sayantani Dutta, co-founder, Jaladarsha Collective
Development, if not sustainability-focused, is bound to pose an ecological hazard to the EKW's frail ecosystem – Nobina Gupta, founder director, Disappearing Dialogues FoundationEarly morning wetland views are absolutely breathtaking. It is a Kolkata not many have seen – Ritobrata Patra, cyclist
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