Navi Mumbai: Over a thousand people have joined a massive signature campaign urging the state government to designate the 30-acre DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve. This public movement coincides with the State Forest Department’s initiative to gather public opinion on the matter.
The issue has gained urgency as the stagnant water in the lake continues to pose a threat to migratory flamingos. Despite a request from the State Mangrove Cell over two and a half months ago, CIDCO has yet to restore the intertidal water flow necessary for maintaining the habitat.
A forest department official confirmed that a report reflecting public sentiment, along with the signatures, will be submitted to the government.
Following a spate of flamingo deaths, a high-level government committee, formed on September 23, 2024, recommended granting conservation status to DPS Flamingo Lake. The committee, led by the Forest Secretary and including CIDCO representatives, also instructed CIDCO to keep water inlet points 3 and 4 open.
B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, has filed an RTI request seeking information on measures taken to restore water flow and make the lake hospitable for flamingos again.
Flamingos, once a common sight at the lake, have started avoiding the area due to poor water conditions. In response to Kumar’s concerns, the State Mangrove Cell confirmed that it has reminded CIDCO’s Managing Director of the government committee’s decision to maintain the lake’s water flow and protect the flamingo habitat.
The committee, which included the Principal Secretary of Urban Development-1, conducted a joint site visit. However, CIDCO maintained during discussions that the matter was still pending in the Supreme Court.
A letter from the Mangrove Cell, signed by its chief S V Ramarao, reiterated that regardless of the court proceedings, the lake’s water level must be maintained to preserve the flamingo habitat. However, a recent Mangrove Cell inspection revealed that the pipes allowing water exchange were blocked, leading to stagnant water and excessive algae growth over half of the lake’s surface.
Since the lake remains under CIDCO’s jurisdiction, the Mangrove Cell has urged CIDCO to remove the blockages and restore water flow to sustain the habitat.
Environmental groups have also pointed out that Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) has committed to protecting local biodiversity in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. This commitment has been reiterated in NMIAL’s half-yearly compliance reports submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC).
Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS) said that over 1,000 people have signed a petition urging the government to take action to save the lake.
Rekha Sankhala from the Save Flamingos and Mangroves Forum highlighted that an online petition has also gathered more than a thousand signatures. “We will continue our efforts through social media, as the youth have shown great enthusiasm for preserving our biodiversity,” she added.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is currently investigating the flamingo deaths at DPS Lake after taking suo moto cognizance of media reports. Kumar, who has filed an intervention application with the tribunal, said, “We will highlight CIDCO’s inaction, which is endangering the lake’s biodiversity.”
NatConnect Foundation and NMEPS have also brought the issue to the attention of State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, urging immediate intervention. Naik has assured that he will take all necessary steps to save the wetland.
