Greens urge CM to make it flamingo-ready Mumbai: Environmental groups have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to expedite the process of granting conservation reserve status to the 12-hectare DPS Lake in Navi Mumbai, warning that the wetland is rapidly deteriorating and could become unsuitable for flamingos and other migratory birds. The appeal comes ahead of the next World Migratory Bird Day, observed on the second Saturday of May and October to highlight the seasonal movement of migratory bird species. Environmentalists have called for urgent measures to restore the lake’s ecological health and make it suitable for flamingos by October. In a fresh representation to the Chief Minister, NatConnect Foundation said DPS Lake had increasingly turned into an “algae reservoir” and was becoming filthy due to the continued obstruction of intertidal water flow by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). The State Wildlife Board has already passed a resolution recommending that DPS Lake be declared a conservation reserve. However, the final government resolution has been awaiting clearance from the Chief Minister’s Office since October last year. Information obtained by NatConnect under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that the Forest Department had submitted its detailed proposal to the Chief Minister’s Office in October 2025, but the approval was still pending. NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar and Palm Beach Greens convenor Shrikant Patki, who inspected the wetland on Thursday, expressed concern over its deteriorating condition. “The government’s own proposal cannot be held ransom to the commercial interests of CIDCO,” Kumar said, alleging that the planning agency had proposed real estate development in the wetland despite its ecological significance. Kumar said DPS Lake served several important ecological functions beyond providing a habitat for birds. The wetland helps absorb excess water and acts as a natural buffer against flooding in the neighbouring NRI Seawoods area and around DPS School. Environmentalists said implementing the Wildlife Board’s decision would provide a framework for systematic conservation and maintenance of the lake and facilitate restoration of the natural flow of intertidal water. Patki said the government should ensure that the decision of the Wildlife Board was implemented without further delay. “Restoration of the free flow of intertidal water is essential for the ecological revival of the wetland and its use by flamingos,” he said. DPS Lake, along with the NRI and T S Chanakya wetlands, forms part of the ecologically significant wetland complex associated with the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, a Ramsar-recognised site. Flamingos and other migratory birds use these wetlands as high-tide roosting sites. The State Forest Department has also highlighted the importance of protecting these water bodies as part of the larger Thane Creek ecosystem, the green groups said. Environmentalists also linked wetland conservation with aviation safety at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Kumar cited concerns raised by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), saying that destruction or degradation of traditional bird habitats could alter bird movement patterns. “If wetlands traditionally used by birds are destroyed, birds could move unpredictably towards mudflats and other water bodies closer to the airport, potentially increasing the risk of bird strikes,” Kumar said.
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