CIDCO is asked by the state mangrove cell to clear water choke points at the DPS Flamingo Lake at Nerul as recommended by a high-level committee appointed by the government.
Greens have repeatedly expressed their concern at the filthy condition of the lake with authorities.
The blocking of the intertidal water flow into the lake is observed by activists to be the primary cause for the poor condition of the lake.
NatConnect director B N Kumar has already complained to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the sorry’ state of affairs. “A high-level committee headed by Forest Secretary Venugopal Reddy has earlier decided to recommend the protection of the DPS Lake as a conservation reserve and asked CIDCO ensure uninterrupted water flow to in and out of the wetland. Incidentally, Mangrove cell head SV Ramarao is the member secretary of the committee of which CIDCO managing director is also a member,” said Kumar.
Meanwhile Ramrao who is also the additional principal chief conservator of forests has written to CIDCO to ensure cleanliness of the lake which is visited by hundreds of flamingos.
“Yet, the lake, which has been attracting hundreds of flamingos, is now full of moss and muck as the water flow has been blocked for a few months”, NatConnect Foundation complained to the CM and top officials.
“The committee has been appointed following a spate of flamingo deaths at the lake early last year after the waterbody remained dry following the blocking the water inlet points by CIDCO. It is essential to preserve the migratory bird destinations such as the DPS Lake and NRI, TS Chanakya and Panje wetlands to avoid bird strike threats to the aircraft at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), Kumar said quoting BNHS study reports.
The environmentalists, have therefore called for removal of the debris, earth from the inlets on both eastern and western sides; digging the channel one or two feet down and refix the cement pipes; maintaining security to check the water flow; sensitise the local community, too, to alert against any future violations and above all, launch inquiry into the persistent, consistent sabotage of the flamingo abode.
“Flamingos have started arriving into TCFS, though in very small numbers, but the DPS Lake, one of resting places for the pink birds during the high tide, is not in a fit condition, said Jyoti Nadkarni, convenor of Kharghar Wetlands and Hills forum.
