Flamingo deaths in Navi Mumbai: High-level probe ordered

Bird lovers feel the flamingos are getting disoriented and injured due to a lack of food in DPS Lake. Representation Pic/NatConnect

Quickly responding to NatConnect Foundation's appeal for a high-level inquiry into the deaths of 10 flamingos in less than a week, the CM has directed the secretary of the Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department to probe the matter.

"We are happy that the CMO acted swiftly and assigned the matter to Tukaram Mundhe, a non-nonsense and upright IAS officer," said NatConnect director B N Kumar.

Environment lovers have high hopes from Mundhe as he is familiar with the city considering he served as commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), Kumar said.

As many as 10 flamingos died and five were injured around the Delhi Public School lake (DPS). It is recognised as one of the important satellite wetlands for the pink birds. "We informed the CM that the tidal water inlets to the DPS flamingo lake are choked. The main inlet from the creek on the southern end of the lake has been buried with the road construction for the unused Nerul jetty," said Kumar.

He added, "The NMMC itself was keen to conserve the wetland as a flamingo abode and even roped in BNHS for the project. But the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), has so far refused to hand over the work to NMMC.

CIDCO has transferred about 25 lakes to the civic body but retained the DPS flamingo lake, NRI, and TS Chanakya wetlands with it. CIDCO has marked the wetland at Sector 52 of Nerul for "future development".

Rekha Sankhala of Save Flamingos and Mangroves forum said, "Vested interests are to blame for the burial of water inlets at DPS flamingo lake."