The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has recommended extending conservation reserve status to the NRI Wetland in Nerul.
This move follows the recent official recognition of the adjacent DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve and comes as a pivotal win for environmental advocates striving to protect the city’s rapidly vanishing wetland ecosystems.The state forest department had initially tasked WII with evaluating DPS Flamingo Lake for its ecological relevance, particularly as a seasonal haven for migratory flamingos. In its comprehensive assessment, the Institute underscored the importance of not only DPS Lake but also the neighbouring NRI Wetland — both crucial nodes in the fragile Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) satellite ecosystem.
The report stressed that these wetlands are essential roosting grounds for flamingos, which rely on consistent water levels and minimal tidal disruptions. The findings strengthen the scientific case for a broader conservation strategy in Navi Mumbai, where urban expansion and infrastructure development have placed unprecedented pressure on ecologically sensitive zones.The proposal to designate the NRI Wetland as a conservation reserve could derail earlier plans by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to develop the area into a commercial golf course. That project now appears shelved for good, according to environmental disclosures made by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (NMIAL) as part of their Environmental Impact Assessment submissions. The airport developer has affirmed its intent to comply with ecological safeguards outlined by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), including protection of all water bodies within the TCFS’s extended ecosystem.
Speaking at a celebratory event organised by local conservation group NatConnect Foundation near DPS Flamingo Lake on Sunday, the organisation’s Director, B N Kumar, lauded the WII’s recommendation as a “turning point in Navi Mumbai’s fight for ecological balance.” He noted that the airport authority’s latest compliance reports reflect a shift towards more sustainable and biodiversity-conscious development, a position that aligns with national climate commitments and global environmental norms.
Adding depth to the ongoing conversation about coastal sustainability, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management in Chennai has also surveyed wetlands in the wider region — including Panje, NRI Complex, and TS Chanakya — highlighting a network of interconnected ecosystems vital for aquatic birdlife.
The scientific consensus is clear: for migratory species like flamingos, which journey thousands of kilometres annually, every wetland matters. Flamingos select roosting sites based on water stability and food availability, and they are extremely sensitive to habitat changes. Any reduction in available wetlands could disrupt their migratory patterns and nesting cycles, with cascading impacts on the region’s biodiversity.
While the final notification on NRI Wetland’s conservation status is still pending, the momentum is unmistakable. The combined push from civil society, scientific bodies, and now parts of the state’s development machinery may finally tip the scales toward a more inclusive and ecologically mindful model of urban growth.As India continues to urbanise at an unprecedented pace, Navi Mumbai’s wetlands could become a benchmark — not just for conservation policy but for how cities can integrate biodiversity into the core of their planning ethos. Whether this momentum holds will be a test of the city’s commitment to balancing development with environmental responsibility
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