Rehab centre for bats to maintain ecological balance

Kolkata: Madhyamgram Municipality is the first civic body in the state that has come up with a unique idea of setting up of a rehabilitation centre for bats, stressing on the conservation of biodiversity in the region.

One of the main purposes of the move is to maintain ecological balance at Badurtala area of Patuli where the rehabilitation centre has been constructed on 20 cottah land. The area falling under ward 3 of Madhyamgram Municipality has been developed in such a manner by the civic body so that a natural habitat can be restored.

It may be mentioned here that a large banyan tree situated at Badurtala had been a home to hundreds of bats for more than a century. The tree survived the onslaught of time for many years but no municipal board in the previous years ever thought of preserving the banyan tree without hampering the eco system of the region. It was the municipal chairman Rathin Ghosh, who is also the local MLA, planned to give a face lift to the entire region.

Ghosh felt the need for rehabilitating the bats without causing any harm to the diversity which is an important attribute to nature. He also laid enormous stress on the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of it while carrying out some construction works around the banyan tree.

The civic body under the leadership of Ghosh, erected an enclosure along the boundary to avoid unwanted intruders.

A park has been set up so that elderly persons can spend some time in the area abound in natural treasures.

The Madhyamgram Municipality has spent around Rs 15-16 lakh for the construction works in the park.

The civic body has a plan to sow more trees inside the park to provide a natural habitat to the bats. Civic authorities also sought assistance from the West Bengal Biodiversity Board for the smooth implementation of the project.

Md Azgar Ali, a septuagenarian who is a resident of Badurtala area said: "The place has been renovated by the civic body and better amenities are being provided to the people. We have seen the bats residing in the branches of the trees for a long time but providing a better habitat to them was a unique concept."

"Biodiversity is our wealth and a vital parameter of sustenance. It is absolutely imperative to understand that the diversity must be conserved as a critically important attribute of nature. The rehabilitation centre for the bats has been developed with a top priority given to the ecological system of the place," Ghosh said.