The Panje wetland in Navi Mumbai, a 289-hectare site equivalent to the size of 30 Azad Maidans, has gone dry due to the blocked flow of intertidal waters, despite the state’s directive to maintain the tidal flow. This disruption poses severe threats to the wetland’s ecological balance, particularly as the migratory bird season unfolds, environmental groups report.
According to the NatConnect Foundation’s director, B N Kumar, Panje typically draws 50 bird species, with around 30 being migratory. These birds, including flamingos from Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, rely on Panje and similar wetlands for survival. However, with no water flowing, the ecosystem is now jeopardized. Additionally, Panje wetland plays a critical role in supporting local fishing communities, who now face dwindling resources. This situation has arisen amid bureaucratic complications and local government neglect, as alleged by environmental activists. A state order issued on November 11, 2020, mandates that City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) maintain tidal flow. Yet, the sluice gates that control the water flow were recently closed by CIDCO, contravening this order.
The head of the Sagar Shakti group, has raised alarms, pointing out that blocking tidal flow endangers local communities by raising the risk of flooding in surrounding areas. The tidal blockage also complicates ongoing environmental studies, particularly for the Navi Mumbai International Airport’s (NMIA) development, where the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had been studying bird flight patterns to ensure aviation safety. Unfortunately, security at Navi Mumbai SEZ (NMSEZ) halted BNHS’s studies, leaving crucial biodiversity research incomplete. The Panje wetland, designated a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) due to its mangrove coverage, is now under threat. RTI-released data reveals that the sluice gates lack CRZ clearance, and CIDCO’s actions reportedly breach environmental mandates. Additionally, CIDCO controversially leased parts of the wetland to NMSEZ (now NMIIA) and incorporated the area into Dronagiri’s development plan as sectors 16-28—despite the plan lacking CRZ approval.
BNHS further advocates for Panje’s preservation as a “satellite wetland” to the Ramsar-recognized Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. The wetland offers refuge to birds during high tide, helping to sustain the region’s fragile biodiversity. Yet, activists criticise a pervasive “apathy” from authorities, who failed to prepare 1:4000 scale cadastral maps as mandated by the CRZ Notification 2019. Local groups and the Maharashtra Biodiversity Board have repeatedly called for urgent conservation action, yet progress remains stalled. “CIDCO, as a town development authority, appears indifferent to biodiversity and the concerns of local fisherfolk,” says the official. Without immediate intervention, Panje risks permanent ecological damage, affecting migratory birds, local communities, and the region’s biodiversity.
