Sukhna will never be the same again

CHANDIGARH: Friday morning was an unusual one at Sukhna Lake. An eerie silence fell on the lake, one that will perhaps stay forever. The sight of morning walkers quietly moving around with ducks and geese swimming on the lake's surface in the backdrop was missing. While the visitors will return after a month, the birds will not be seen, or heard, ever again - if the administration's plans are put into effect.
Though residents agree the step was necessary, they feel that an important part of City Beautiful has been lost forever. Joggers, visitors and residents of Tricity were pained by the news of all the 100-plus ducks and geese at the lake being culled due to avian flu. Through Thursday - when the news surfaced - and Friday as well, those familiar with the sight of the friendly birds continued to exchange messages and post threads on social media feeds, ruing the culling of the birds.
With the area cordoned off as soon as the avian flu test was reported positive on Wednesday, frequent visitors to the lake could not see their favourite birds for a last time.
Santosh Kumar, UT's conservator of forests and wildlife, confirmed that domesticated birds will not be re-introduced into the lake - because of the threat of infection and the law stating that domesticated birds cannot be released into sanctuaries and national parks.
"This is indeed sad. Mornings at Sukhna will never be the same. After my jog, I usually spent time with the ducks. It felt as if they knew you. They were so much a part of the lakefront," said Rajni Sharma, a frequent visitor from Sector 27.
On the other hand, there were a few who felt that the domesticated birds should not have been introduced to the lake at all. Punjab's former chief wildlife warden Gurmit Singh recently had even written to UT administrator Shivraj Patil seeking the removal of the birds, terming their release into the lake a 'foolish idea' in the first place.
"While nothing could have been done since the birds were infected, I really hope the decision of not to bring more such birds back is reconsidered," said another Sukhna visitor, Paramjit Singh.