In a notable development, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has lodged a formal complaint with the NRI Coastal Police against the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The complaint pertains to the NMMC’s actions in clearing blocked water inlets at the DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul. Environmentalists have expressed dismay, suggesting that CIDCO’s move underscores longstanding concerns about their plans to develop the lake for commercial purposes, potentially at the expense of environmental considerations.
The complaint, signed by CIDCO’s executive engineer in Vashi, was addressed to the Senior Police Inspector of the Coastal Police. It alleges that on May 23, MLA Ganesh Naik directed NMMC officials to unblock the channels at DPS Flamingo Lake. In response, NMMC contractors replaced a 300 mm pipe with a 600 mm one and utilised 10 horsepower motors to draw water from the creek.
NatConnect Foundation, having obtained the letter through sources, expressed shock at this turn of events. BN Kumar, director of NatConnect, criticised CIDCO for initially blocking the tidal water flow to the lake during the construction of the road leading to the Nerul jetty. CIDCO’s letter claims that the DPS Lake issue is currently under Supreme Court consideration, though it provides no specific details. Both CIDCO and NMMC operate under the jurisdiction of the State Government’s Urban Development Department. CIDCO’s letter also raises concerns that introducing creek water into the lake could promote mangrove growth, potentially jeopardising CIDCO’s development plans and leading to substantial financial losses.
Kumar further highlighted that CIDCO had previously violated its own commitments during the jetty construction, which included assurances that the water flow would remain unimpeded. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) had stipulated that while approving the diversion of 46 hectares of mangroves for the jetty, the water flow should not be affected. Yet, this stipulation was violated, according to Kumar.
This controversy has ignited a broader discussion about the balance between urban development and environmental preservation. The incident at DPS Flamingo Lake serves as a microcosm of the challenges faced by rapidly growing urban areas in maintaining ecological balance while pursuing infrastructural advancements. Environmental activists argue that preserving natural water bodies and their ecosystems is crucial for sustainable urban planning.
The developments at DPS Flamingo Lake highlight the need for stringent oversight and accountability in urban development projects to ensure that environmental considerations are not sidelined. The conflicting interests between CIDCO’s developmental ambitions and NMMC’s actions to unblock water channels illustrate the complexities involved in urban planning where ecological and economic interests intersect.