Navi Mumbai: Around 5,000 flamingos have arrived early at Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, prompting environmentalists to renew calls to protect DPS Flamingo Lake as the Centre seeks priority action on the wetland.
Environmentalists said the early arrival reflected climate change’s impact on migratory patterns. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change referred the plea by greens to Maharashtra State Wetland Authority for urgent intervention. It sought necessary action on priority and asked that an Action Taken Report be sent to the complainant, with a copy to the ministry.
Its proposed conservation reserve status remains pending despite Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife, chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , resolving on April 17, 2025, to grant protection. A state forest department RTI reply confirmed that the final proposal had been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, but the govt resolution notifying the reserve had not been issued.
The ministry reiterated that Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, prohibit reclamation and conversion for non-wetland uses, including encroachment, construction, solid-waste dumping and untreated-effluent discharge. Greens also called for time-bound notification of nearly 24,000 Maharashtra wetlands ground-truthed by National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. — B B Nayak You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in Mumbai Wildlife Institute of India recommended managing selected water bodies outside the sanctuary for aquatic birds, specifically identifying DPS and NRI lakes for flamingo conservation. Its assessment recorded tagged flamingos using DPS Lake, based on Bombay Natural History Society studies, and highlighted the importance of tidal flow and shallow feeding habitats. Greens raised concerns over blocked intertidal flow, algal growth and wetland deterioration. The institute also identified a drain carrying sewage from interior townships into the lake. V K Gandhi, president of Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS), sought expedited notification, restoration of natural tidal flow and ecological health, and protection of both lakes under the institute’s recommendations.