29 August,2026 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
DPS Lake has been grappling with rising algae growth, poor water circulation and mounting ecological stress. Pics/By Special Arrangement
This Raksha Bandhan, environmentalists, including NGO NatConnect Foundation, have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking protection for Nerul's 12-hectare DPS (Delhi Public School) Lake - named after the adjacent campus. Nature lovers want the government to protect the wetland from neglect and encroachment and ensure its revival before flamingos and over 120 bird species lose another refuge.
[popcorn number="July 28" desc="Day SC issued its nationwide wetlands order" class="Default"]
Nature lovers report heavy algae growth in the lake after CIDCO allegedly blocked its intertidal water flow, leaving the wetland filthy and unsuitable for migratory birds. NatConnect Foundation has urged the CM to expedite the process of granting DPS Lake Conservation Reserve status.
According to green activists, the Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has already passed a resolution to declare DPS Lake a Conservation Reserve. However, the final Government Resolution has been awaiting the CM's clearance since last October.
Visiting the site, NatConnect Director BN Kumar and Palm Beach Greens convenor Shrikant Patki expressed shock over the lake's condition and filthy water.
"The government's own proposal cannot be held ransom to the commercial interests of CIDCO. CIDCO had planned real estate development on the wetland, ignoring its ecological importance," alleged Kumar. The lake absorbs excess water and helps prevent flooding in neighbouring areas.
DPS Lake, along with the NRI and TS Chanakya wetlands, forms part of the Ramsar site linked to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary and is a high-tide roosting ground for flamingos. The state forest department has also stressed the need to protect these wetlands.
Navi Mumbai-based environmentalist Sunil Agarwal, who has been fighting to save the city's mangroves and wetlands, said the Supreme Court's July 28, 2026 order on nationwide wetlands marks a vital step for protecting local water bodies. He said the ruling mandates physical verification and proper demarcation of wetlands rather than relying solely on administrative records.
With clear judicial direction set, the Save Navi Mumbai Environment group urges state and local authorities to strictly enforce the order and protect these ecosystems before permanent damage occurs.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has previously warned that protecting Navi Mumbai's wetlands is important to minimise the risk of bird strikes at Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Experts have cautioned that losing bird habitats could alter movement of birds, pushing them towards mudflats and other water bodies closer to the airport and potentially increasing the chances of bird-hit incidents.
