Navi Mumbai: In a promising development, flamingos have started returning to the DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, after a nearly three-year absence. Environmentalists attribute their return to the partial restoration of intertidal water flow to the wetland.
“This is heartening news,” said NatConnect Foundation, “especially while the proposal to declare the lake a Conservation Reserve by the State Mangrove Cell awaits government approval.”
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Environmentalists have been campaigning for the restoration of the lake, which suffered due to the blockage of tidal water by vested interests. “We are beginning to see some water flow again,” confirmed NatConnect Director B N Kumar after a joint inspection of the site on Saturday with local Mangrove Cell officials. The inspection followed instructions from Forest Minister Ganesh Naik to open the blocked water channels.
Kharghar Wetlands and Hills Forum co-convenor Jyoti Nadkarni, who also participated in the visit, criticized CIDCO for dragging its feet on fully restoring the water flow. “The delay has kept flamingos away from this waterbody,” she said.
Despite the limited water inflow, about 60–70% of the accumulated algae in the lake has cleared, according to Range Forest Officer Sudhir Manjare. He noted that the two inlets need to be further lowered to allow full tidal movement.
Minister Naik had earlier assured NatConnect that he has directed CIDCO and NMMC officials to take swift action. “Don’t worry, I won’t rest until DPS Lake is once again thriving with flamingos,” he promised.
DPS Flamingo Lake is part of the satellite wetland system of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), a Ramsar site. Flamingos often fly to these satellite wetlands—including Panje, DPS Lake, NRI, and T S Chanakya—during high tide in the creek to rest and feed.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has repeatedly stressed the need to conserve these satellite wetlands as part of the TCFS management plan. Disruptions in the ecosystem could force flamingos to land on highlands near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), posing bird strike risks to aircraft.
The Adani group-led NMIA, in its environmental impact assessment and compliance reports to the Centre, has acknowledged this risk and committed to following BNHS recommendations to preserve biodiversity around the airport, Kumar noted.
“We sincerely hope CIDCO will see reason and act promptly to restore the lake to its former glory,” said Rekha Sankhalka of the Save Navi Mumbai Flamingos and Mangroves Forum.