“We had lodged an FIR against the owner and had also warned him. He was asked not to pollute the pond or fill it up,” pointed out Sushil Sharma, member, mayor-in-council of the lighting department of KMC.

Sharma said: “After the warnings, the owner constructed a barrier all around the pond. The residents told us that the pond was being filled up secretly inside the barrier. The owner was probably planning to build a high-rise building there.”

The pond is a 33-cottah water body and the KMC today carried out the demolition of the wall which surrounded the pond. “The pond is situated in ward number 124, where the councillor is Sukumar Sarkar. We broke down the wall at 11 am today under Section 17 A, Inland Fisheries Act. After clearing the water of filth and accumulated mud, we will hand it over to a self-help group, after which the pond can be used for pisiculture,” claimed Sharma.

This is the third such action taken up by the KMC this year. The first pond which was saved from extinction was located at 87 E, Cossipore. In this case, a 58-cottah pond was restored way back in January. The second pond, which was renovated and saved by the KMC authorities was the sole water body in Fakir Para Road in Behala. The management of this 15-cottah pond was taken over by the KMC almost 15 days back.

Sharma said: “Saving these water bodies from extinction will help create more public awareness amongst the people of Kolkata. We are just trying to set an example as how to take care of nature around us.”