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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.

Shinde, Chavan under fire over silence

Writer: Dr. Abhilash Dawre
Dr. Abhilash Dawre
Jul 10
2 min read
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre was produced before a court under heavy police security at Kalyan on Friday. Pic: PTI
Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre was produced before a court under heavy police security at Kalyan on Friday. Pic: PTI

Dombivli: The brutal assault on two doctors, alleged intimidation of nurses, and chaos inside Shastrinagar Hospital by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his associates has sparked outrage across Maharashtra's medical fraternity. While a court has remanded the corporator and three others to police custody till July 13, the silence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP Maharashtra President and Dombivli MLA Ravindra Chavan has become a major point of concern among healthcare workers, who say they expected their elected representatives to publicly stand by the medical staff after such a serious incident.


Healthcare employees have questioned the silence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who has often publicly stated that women in the state are his "beloved sisters" and that injustice against them would not be tolerated. With allegations that a woman doctor was pushed and nurses were threatened during the incident, many in the health department say they expected a clear public response from him.


Similarly, BJP Maharashtra President and Dombivli MLA Ravindra Chavan, known for regularly attending social, religious and public events in his constituency and responding to local issues, has neither visited Shastrinagar Hospital nor met the doctors, nurses and hospital staff following the attack. The absence of any public outreach has led to disappointment among healthcare workers.


No Stand

Medical staff said they had expected both leaders, who are known for raising public issues and supporting citizens, to stand firmly behind doctors and healthcare employees during such a critical situation. Instead, they say the lack of a strong public stand has left many employees feeling mentally distressed.


Healthcare workers also pointed out that Ravindra Chavan had played a significant role in strengthening Shastrinagar Hospital by facilitating the availability of various medical facilities and taking initiatives for the recruitment of 90 medical staff in municipal hospitals. They believe that, following the attack on doctors at the same hospital, he should have visited the institution and offered support to the affected staff. His absence has reportedly drawn criticism not only from government healthcare workers but also from private medical practitioners.


According to the allegations, doctors at Shastrinagar Hospital had decided to refer a pregnant woman to another hospital for further treatment. Following this, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Mhatre allegedly arrived at the hospital along with his supporters, questioning why his phone call had not been answered.


He and his associates allegedly abused the doctors and assaulted Dr. Vaibhav Salunkhe and Dr. Srushti Baviskar. It is further alleged that the woman doctor was pushed, while two nurses were threatened. The entire incident was captured on the hospital's CCTV cameras, triggering widespread reactions across the state.


Police have arrested corporator Ramesh Mhatre along with Ramesh Laxman Pawar (50), Prakash alias Prakash Uddhav Nikam (35), and Akshay Sharad Karande (30) in connection with the case.

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