Maharashtra Wildlife Board Approves Conservation Reserve Status For Navi Mumbai’s DPS Flamingo Lake
The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board on Wednesday endorsed the proposal to declare the 30-acre DPS Flamingo Lake in Navi Mumbai as a conservation reserve. “This marks the first time a wetland in the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary’s (TCFS) satellite ecosystem will receive such protection,” NatConnect Foundation Director BN Kumar said.
The Board’s endorsement came during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. The proposal, listed under agenda item 4.1, was ratified following strong support from Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, who is also the vice-chairman of the Board.
“This lake is a crucial destination for flamingos and deserves protection as a sensitive ecological zone,” Naik told Board members. He also pushed for the proposal at the government level following repeated public appeals and expert recommendations.
The decision follows a sustained campaign by environmental groups, including NatConnect Foundation, Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS), Save Flamingos and Wetlands Forum, and Kharghar Wetlands and Hills Forum. These groups have been advocating for the protection of the lake, which forms a key habitat for flamingos arriving from TCFS during high tide.
Kumar had earlier submitted a memorandum to Naik, accompanied by a recommendation from a high-level government panel formed to address the recurring flamingo deaths near the lake. The panel was set up after 17 flamingos died last year when tidal water inlets to the lake were blocked due to access road construction for the nearby Passenger Water Transport Terminal.
“This is a huge step forward and a collective victory for the environment,” Kumar said, expressing appreciation for the minister’s swift action. “The only regret is that 17 flamingos had to die before meaningful intervention was initiated.”
Naik had earlier visited the lake and ordered immediate restoration of water flow by reopening two blocked inlets and instructing the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to lower the pipes to ensure proper tidal exchange. Forest officials confirmed that around 60% of the accumulated algae in the lake has since been cleared due to improved water circulation.
Sandeep Sareen of NMEPS, who also submitted a memorandum to Naik during a recent Janata Darbar, called the Board’s approval “a proud moment for every nature lover.” The groups had earlier organized human chains to draw attention to the deteriorating condition of the flamingo habitat.
DPS Flamingo Lake is part of the Ramsar-designated Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary’s satellite wetland network, which includes Panje, NRI, and TS Chanakya wetlands. These wetlands serve as vital resting and feeding zones for migratory flamingos during high tide.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has repeatedly emphasized the need to conserve these satellite wetlands under the TCFS management plan. Disruptions to these habitats could force flamingos to move inland, potentially increasing the risk of bird strikes at the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
With the restoration of partial water flow and now the declaration of conservation reserve status, the iconic pink flamingos have begun to return in increasing numbers to their favored haunt at DPS Lake — a sign of hope and recovery for Navi Mumbai’s rich wetland heritage, Kumar added.
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