Controversial Road Threatens DPS Flamingo Lake in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, 10th December 2024: The DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, is facing significant threats due to a controversial road built along the wetland and the obstruction of intertidal water flow.

B.N. Kumar, an environmentalist from the NatConnect Foundation based in Navi Mumbai, informed that a state government team discovered that a 600-meter road between a 30-acre mangrove area and the wetland could result in environmental damage.

NatConnect Foundation had previously raised concerns with both the state and central authorities about the road constructed by CIDCO, arguing that it violates the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, which prohibit construction within 50 meters of mangroves.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has instructed the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to investigate the issue. On December 3, a team from the Thane collector’s office visited the lake area and recorded their findings, recommending the removal of the road to prevent mangrove destruction and encroachment on the lake.

Sandeep Sareen from the Navi Mumbai Environmental Preservation Society (NMEPS) pointed out that activists had initially not opposed the road, as CIDCO claimed it was intended to develop the Nerul jetty. However, as the details of the road’s impact emerged, concerns about its effect on the flamingo lake intensified. “We never imagined the road would endanger the flamingo lake,” Sareen added.

The road has blocked the free flow of intertidal water from an adjacent nullah that connects to Thane Creek, further exacerbating the problem. Kumar noted that despite efforts earlier this year, such as the clearing of water channels under the road following intervention by Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik, these channels have become clogged again, contributing to the stagnation of water in the lake.

The stagnant, murky water is now inhospitable for the flamingos, especially as the migratory bird season begins. Kumar expressed concern that the birds, which usually visit wetlands like DPS Flamingo Lake, NRI, and T.S. Chanakya during high tide, would be deterred by the poor water conditions.

“This damage is deeply troubling, especially since the state government had appointed a committee to find ways to protect the lake, a vital spot for flamingos,” he said. Following a series of flamingo deaths at the DPS Lake, former Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar established a committee in July to investigate the issue.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is reviewing the matter after taking suo motu notice of media reports, with NatConnect Foundation submitting an intervention application to raise concerns.

Kumar also emphasized that CIDCO’s development plan had earmarked DPS Flamingo Lake for “future development,” and urged the government to reject these plans to preserve the area as a key part of the city’s biodiversity. He highlighted the importance of conserving wetlands, noting that they provide vital ecosystem services, including flood control, supporting local fishing communities, and maintaining ecological balance.