Navi Mumbai: After an activist sent the story clipping from the Free Press Journal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), the Chief Minister, and the environment department, the Maharashtra State Environment Department directed CIDCO and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to investigate the destruction of the 30-acre DPS Flamingo Lake.
The department has also demanded an action-taken report following complaints from environmentalists about the poor condition of the wetland despite commitments to conserve it as part of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project.
CIDCO, which is implementing the NMIA project, had stated in its half-yearly environmental compliance report to the MOEFCC that it would implement the Bombay Natural History Society's (BNHS) recommendations to conserve biodiversity in the airport region.
However, NatConnect Foundation’s director, B.N. Kumar, alleged that the intertidal water flow to the DPS wetland has been blocked for months, leading to stagnant water that is unsuitable for flamingos.
Ahead of World Wetlands Day on February 2, Kumar’s compliant prompted Environment Director Abhay Madhukar Pimparkar to email CIDCO and NMMC, instructing them to investigate the situation and report back within 15 days. Kumar expressed hope that CIDCO would take corrective measures and restore the wetland.
Environmentalists pointed out that the DPS Flamingo Lake was recommended for protection as a conservation reserve by a state-appointed high-level committee. Activists have also criticized CIDCO for ignoring the Mangrove Cell’s reminders to maintain water channels at the wetland.
Previously, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to a December 30 email from NatConnect by directing the state forest department to examine the violations. "Despite this, the wetland remains neglected, with stagnant, moss-filled water making the area uninhabitable for flamingos," Kumar added.
CIDCO’s environmental compliance report noted concerns about bird activity near the airport, but BNHS studies have shown that birds typically fly below aircraft levels. Nonetheless, activists warn that vested interests have blocked the water flow from Thane Creek to the wetland, further damaging its ecosystem.
Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Protection Society (NMEPS) emphasized the significance of wetlands in supporting biodiversity, serving as carbon sinks, and managing groundwater levels. He also highlighted the importance of this year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” and called on authorities to safeguard vital ecosystems like the DPS Flamingo Lake.
Wetlands not only support migratory and native birds but also mitigate urban flooding and sustain local fishing communities. "We are urging swift action to prevent further degradation of this critical water body," Kumar said.
