Urges CIDCO to restore water flow

Amid growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul, the State Mangrove Cell has directed CIDCO to address water choke points as recommended by a high-level government-appointed committee.

Mangrove Cell head S.V. Ramarao, also the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, confirmed that he has written to CIDCO, urging them to ensure the lake’s cleanliness. The 30-acre wetland, under CIDCO’s jurisdiction, has been marred by blocked intertidal water flow, reportedly due to vested interests, according to the NatConnect Foundation.

NatConnect Director B.N. Kumar raised the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who instructed the Forest Department to take action. A high-level committee chaired by Forest Secretary Venugopal Reddy had earlier proposed declaring the lake a conservation reserve and recommended measures to ensure uninterrupted water flow. Despite these decisions, the lake remains choked with moss and muck, preventing flamingos from resting there during high tide.

The issue gained urgency following flamingo deaths last year when blocked water inlets left the lake dry. Environmentalists warn that preserving migratory bird habitats like DPS Lake, NRI, TS Chanakya, and Panje wetlands is critical to prevent bird strikes at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). A BNHS study highlighted the risk of displaced birds landing at mudflats near the airport.

Activists, including Sandeep Sareen of Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society and Jyoti Nadkarni of Kharghar Wetlands and Hills Forum, have called for immediate actions:

• Clearing debris and earth blocking inlets.
• Excavating channels for better water flow.
• Maintaining security to monitor water flow.
• Community sensitization to prevent future violations.
• Investigating sabotage of the flamingo habitat.