India, April 10 -- A few years ago, an environmental activist living at Charkop, Kandivali West, observed some beautiful rare birds around a pond on the foothills of Turzon Point. The pond, abutting 135 hectares of mangroves, was routinely debased and littered and in a filthy state. A group of three residents then embarked on cleaning it; the enterprise eventually became a drive that continued for seven years and ended only last week after the forest department started work to enclose and protect the pond.

The water body, which has a vast biodiversity, attracts varied migratory birds. "Our hearts sank seeing the birds sit around the stinking and littered pond," said Milli Shetty, the activist who kickstarted the operation. "Every weekend...