The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has taken steps to protect the flamingo in the city after receiving complaints of stone pelting on the birds and disturbance to their habitat for clicking selfies.
The city engineering department of NMMC has assured to implement measures to safeguard the habitat of flamingos in the city.
Environmentalists have raised concerns over the damage caused to the flamingo habitat due to easy access to the DPS lake.
As per the complaints, officials from the department conducted a site inspection of DPS Wetlands to assess the gravity of the situation. During the inspection, engineers were briefed about other issues threatening the existence of wetlands, such as blocking of intertidal inlet pipes, reinstallation of damaged barricades, and the installation of notice boards.
Following the inspection, the civic administration has decided to fence the entire area of the pond in response to the concerns.
The NMMC had earlier fenced a portion of the lake after instances of visitors falling into the muddy area. Resident and activist Rekha Sankhala had raised the matter repeatedly with the administration. Eventually, the engineering department assigned two engineers to inspect the area. The engineers were shown the exact locations of water blockages happening, the broken barricades, and the need for fencing to protect flamingos.
Kharghar-based activists Jyoti Nadkarni and BN Kumar also raised a similar grievance through personal interaction with the municipal commissioner. Flamingos are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, and the administration needs to take special measures to conserve their habitat, said Nadkarni.
According to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) study report, approximately 1,33,000 flamingos were observed this year during April across the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS). At the DPS lake, scientists associated with the society observed a total of 8,000 lesser Flamingos and 2,000 greater flamingos this year. The natural wetlands are the reason for the flamingos' visit, but the habitat of the birds is getting disturbed by stopping the natural flow of water.
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