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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 7:24:18 pm

Flamingo City may see early ‘pink influx’, wetlands worry

Pollution, algal growth and disrupted tidal flows threaten key bird habitats Flamingos could arrive in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai earlier than usual this winter, potentially in larger numbers, but environmentalists warn that deteriorating wetlands may leave the migratory birds with inadequate feeding grounds. Polluted water, excessive algal growth and disrupted tidal flows threaten three key habitats DPS Flamingo Lake, NRI Wetland and TS Chanakya Wetland raising concerns over the region’s...

Flamingo City may see early ‘pink influx’, wetlands worry

Pollution, algal growth and disrupted tidal flows threaten key bird habitats Flamingos could arrive in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai earlier than usual this winter, potentially in larger numbers, but environmentalists warn that deteriorating wetlands may leave the migratory birds with inadequate feeding grounds. Polluted water, excessive algal growth and disrupted tidal flows threaten three key habitats DPS Flamingo Lake, NRI Wetland and TS Chanakya Wetland raising concerns over the region’s preparedness for the annual arrival of the pink visitors, NatConnect Foundation said. Senior scientist Mrugank Prabhu of Srushti Conservation Foundation expects the birds to arrive early, possibly in greater numbers. A deficient monsoon in Kutch could affect water levels and food availability, prompting flamingos to seek alternative feeding grounds sooner than usual, said Prabhu, who has been studying bird movements along the Central Asian Flyway. NatConnect director B N Kumar said the three wetlands were not adequately prepared to receive the birds, which attract birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to Navi Mumbai and the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), a Ramsar site. The concerns follow private laboratory tests commissioned by NatConnect earlier this year, which found elevated pollution indicators in water samples collected from all three sites. Kumar said flamingos had moved north to Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan during the previous migratory season, while arrivals in the Mumbai region began in smaller batches. He cautioned that deteriorating wetlands could fail to provide suitable feeding grounds if the birds arrived early in search of alternative habitats. NRI Wetland in Nerul has been affected by extensive algal growth, while neighbouring TS Chanakya Lake faces waterlogging and drainage problems. Environmentalists attribute these issues to encroachment and interference with natural water flows. Kumar called for urgent restoration, expressing concern over delays in securing formal legal protection for the wetlands.

India’s Growing E-Waste Problem

Writer: Dr. Sanjay Joshi
Dr. Sanjay Joshi
Aug 28
3 min read

India is now the fifth-largest generator of e-waste in the world, after the USA, China, Japan and Germany. Yet, less than two per cent of the e-waste generated in the country is formally recycled. Since 2018, India has been generating more than two million tonnes of e-waste every year. The country also receives substantial quantities of e-waste from other parts of the world, adding further pressure to an already overburdened waste-management system.


For many Indian cities, the sight of discarded computers, mobile phones, wires, cables and other electronic equipment lying in open dumpsites is hardly unusual. What is less visible, however, is the damage taking place beneath the surface. Toxic substances released from e-waste can contaminate soil and groundwater and pose serious risks to human health and the environment.


A study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and KPMG, Electronic Waste Management in India, found that computer equipment accounts for nearly 70 per cent of India's e-waste. Telecommunication equipment and mobile phones contribute about 12 per cent, electrical equipment 8 per cent and medical equipment 7 per cent, with the remainder coming from household

electronic waste.


The informal sector: an invisible workforce

The collection, transportation, dismantling and recycling of e-waste in India is largely dominated by the informal sector. This vast network is well established but remains largely unregulated. Workers recover valuable materials such as copper, gold and reusable components from discarded devices. However, they often do so under hazardous conditions and without adequate safety measures.


The informal recycling process also has wider environmental consequences. Valuable materials that could potentially be recovered are lost, while toxic substances may escape into the surrounding environment. Workers themselves face serious risks to their health and safety, particularly when dismantling electronic equipment without protective gear or appropriate facilities.


Seelampur in Delhi, one of India's largest informal e-waste dismantling centres, provides a stark example. Adults, as well as children, have traditionally spent 8–10 hours a day dismantling electronic devices and recovering valuable metals and components. The scale of such activity highlights the dependence of the informal sector on e-waste as a source of livelihood.


The methods used can be extremely hazardous. Open burning is sometimes used to recover metals from wires and cables, while acids may be used to extract metals from electronic components. Such practices expose workers and nearby communities to toxic substances and harmful fumes.


Materials that have no immediate economic value are often discarded during the recycling process. Toxic chemicals can then seep through the soil and enter underground aquifers, degrading local groundwater. Over time, such contamination can make groundwater unsafe for drinking and unsuitable for agricultural use, affecting communities that depend on these water sources.


The problem does not end with groundwater. When e-waste is dumped in landfills, toxic elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, along with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), can accumulate in the soil. These substances can degrade soil quality and, in areas used for farming, potentially make agricultural land unsafe.


Recent studies have highlighted the seriousness of the problem in India's major metropolitan cities. Research published by Chakraborty and colleagues in 2018 and 2019 in the journal Science of the Total Environment found increasing concentrations of PCBs, dioxins and furans, plasticisers, bisphenol A (BPA), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in surface soils.


More on this subject will follow next week. Till then, have a great weekend!


(The writer is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

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