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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: Aug 22: It nestles amidst lush bushes, dark greenery and serene milieu away from the bustling crowd of the city. This urban village has witnessed the glorious history of the Peshwa dynasty of Maharashtra. Standing atop a small hill its surrounding valley was a strategic location for the great Maratha. It is centuries now since the dynasty came to an end and Killagaotan, as the place is known, became a heritage site. But today several questions are being raised on the government authorities regarding the preservation of this fort village.

The village houses a pond of the Peshwa period, which is now under threat of reclamation by the settlers. “It was once the largest man-made pond in Navi Mumbai. It has a well at both its ends and one in the pond also. Not only this, it is a hydrological marvel as it demonstrates waste water management by our ancestors. But the sorry plight of the once beautiful pond only pains our heart. We have tried to voice our opinions against it but we don’t see an iota of improvement", grieves PB Menon, Chairman-Society of Ecological and Environmental Protection.

It is alleged that since CIDCO bought lands in Navi Mumbai such negligence became apparent. "CIDCO only concentrated on constructing new buildings hence neglecting to preserve and prevent damage to the heritage site. The result is visible and it’s obnoxious. CIDCO continues to ignore it so that the pond dries up and they get another site to construct buildings,” says an agitated Pandurang Bhole.

A notice issued by the NMMC has been erected near the pond so as to disallow visitors to get into the waters. The notice still stands but water doesn’t! It is ironical that right under the notice the reclamation had begun. The pond started deteriorating some two years back when residents, unknown of its significance, started using the pond as a dumping ground. Killagaotan also boasts of several elite class people who bought these spacious row houses to get a window-view of the once beautiful pond.

“Once it blossomed with fresh white lotus and today it resembles a filthy pit. The pond has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that are vectors to several diseases. Before Killagaotan dies of diseases, immediate action should be taken to improvise the situation,” says Menon.

The CIDCO officials on the other hand refused to give any open comments on the issue. “It’s a pond after all, not a sea and we are certainly not responsible for this. We are here to develop the city so why should we indulge in such a practice? Nevertheless, I will look into the matter and make immediate improvements,” explained Buddhbhushan Gaikwad, PRO-CIDCO.

Swati Pandey