Navi Mumbai’s DPS Flamingo Lake declared a conservation reserve
Spread across 30 acres, the DPS Flamingo Lake serves as a critical resting and feeding ground for flamingos that migrate from Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary during high tide.
3 min read
The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has officially approved the declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve, making it the first wetland connected to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to receive such protection.
(File Image)The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has officially approved the declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve, making it the first wetland connected to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to receive such protection. The move, endorsed during a board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, is expected to preserve Navi Mumbai’s delicate wetland ecosystem.
The 30-acre lake serves as a critical resting and feeding ground for flamingos that migrate from TCFS during high tide. State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, who pushed strongly for the lake’s conservation, said, “This lake is an important stopover for flamingos and needs to be preserved as a sensitive biodiversity zone.” Naik, who also serves as vice-chairman of the State Wildlife Board, explained to members that protecting this habitat was not just about conservation, but also public interest and environmental responsibility.
The decision comes after sustained advocacy from local environmental groups in Navi Mumbai. “This is a momentous milestone, the result of sustained efforts of all environmentalists. We urge the authorities to promptly issue a government resolution, protect the birds’ flight paths, and treat this as the first step towards preserving all of Navi Mumbai’s vital wetlands,” said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation.
A committee was formed last year following the death of 17 flamingos when the lake dried up due to blocked tidal inlets during the construction of a nearby Passenger Water Transport terminal in Nerul. Naik had also directed officials to reopen two tidal inlets and asked the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to realign pipes to restore water flow.
According to forest department officials, nearly 60 per cent of the algae-choked water body has now been cleared, allowing flamingos to return in large numbers.
Activists such as Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS) called the board’s decision a “collective victory for all environment lovers.” Last year, local NGOs staged multiple protests and formed human chains to highlight the plight of the wetland, eventually drawing government attention to the issue.
Experts, including those at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), have repeatedly warned that loss of such satellite wetlands could drive flamingos towards land near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), increasing the risk of bird strikes. The airport’s environmental impact assessment also acknowledges this and pledges adherence to BNHS recommendations.
You May Like
Photos
