Navi Mumbai: The Maharashtra government’s move to declare DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul as a Conservation Reserve has been welcomed by environmentalists — but they’re urging the state to go further and extend similar protection to all five key wetlands under the Ramsar-designated Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS).
The proposal to safeguard three bird-rich zones — Sewree-Mahul, NRI-TS Chanakya, and Panje-Dongari — was first approved by the State Wildlife Board in 2015. Then, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the decision, and a related post remains on his Facebook page, the NatConnect Foundation pointed out.
Recent surveys conducted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management — accessed via RTI by NatConnect — confirm the ecological importance of wetlands at Panje, NRI Complex, and TS Chanakya. These areas, activists argue, deserve immediate recognition under the Environment Protection Act and should be officially declared Conservation Reserves.
BN Kumar, director of NatConnect, noted that Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) has committed in its environmental compliance reports to preserve local biodiversity in line with recommendations by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). BNHS has consistently highlighted the significance of these wetlands, which act as satellite ecosystems for the TCFS.
CIDCO had earlier planned a golf course at the NRI wetland, but this proposal has now been dropped, according to NMIAL’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report — opening the door for preservation.
“This is the perfect moment for the government to act swiftly and protect all five wetlands,” Kumar said. “There are no excuses left.”
He also pointed out that the State Mangrove Cell, under the forest department, recognizes these sites in the TCFS Management Plan 2020–30, adding weight to the conservation call.
Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has shown interest in managing and safeguarding the NRI and TS Chanakya wetlands.
Sandeep Sareen from the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society echoed the sentiment: “There’s no reason left to delay conservation status. Let’s protect these vital habitats before it’s too late.”
Wetlands are critical for biodiversity, groundwater recharge, flood control, and supporting local livelihoods. As per the government’s own definition, any natural or man-made water body — whether permanent or seasonal — qualifies as a wetland.
