Committee to be headed by Principal Secretary says, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar

Navi Mumbai: A committee led by the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department will be established to protect the mangrove zone along with the habitat of flamingos in Thane and Navi Mumbai. The committee will suggest necessary conservation measures and is expected to submit a report within two months, announced Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in the Assembly.

The issue was raised by member Chetan Tupe during the question and answer session, to which Minister Mungantiwar responded. He highlighted that flamingos, which travel thousands of kilometers from regions such as Iran and Central Asia, find a vital habitat in the mangrove zone of Thane and Navi Mumbai. He emphasized the importance of preserving these areas, considering the possibility of imposing penalties for any damage to the habitat.

The committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department, will include representatives from the Bombay Natural History Society, the Principal Secretary of the Environment Department, CIDCO, municipal corporation officials, and officials from the Urban Development Department.

 Additionally, the Forest Survey of India is conducting mapping to preserve the Mangrove. Minister Mungantiwar stated that he would request the central government to transfer the land currently held by the revenue department to the forest department.

The inquiry into the death of six flamingos near the DPS pond at Nerul Seawoods (Navi Mumbai) revealed that respiratory failure caused the death of four birds, while the cause of death for the remaining two could not be determined due to decomposition. Following the inspection, officials recommended replacing the LED lights near the lake with low-pressure sodium lights or yellow LED lights to prevent future incidents, according to Minister Mungantiwar.

Various issues related to the conservation efforts were also raised by Ashish Shelar, Sanjay Kelkar, and Jayant Patil during the session.