NRI, T S Chanakya flamingo lakes aren’t wetlands, says Thane district panel as greens fume

Navi Mumbai: A decision by the Thane district-level Wetland Committee declaring that flamingo habitats at NRI–Flamingo Point and T S Chanakya do not qualify as wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, has sparked sharp protests from environmental groups.

The panel assessed eight sites across Thane and Navi Mumbai and concluded that none met the criteria for wetland classification, citing reasons such as artificial origin, past land use patterns and existing development zoning.

Activists, however, have termed the findings “blatantly wrong”. The NatConnect Foundation argued that the NRI and T S Chanakya sites form part of the larger Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) ecosystem, as documented in a state forest department report. The group also pointed to recommendations by the Wildlife Institute of India stressing the need to conserve Navi Mumbai’s wetlands, including DPS Flamingo Lake.

Environmentalists further said the panel’s conclusions contradict earlier observations by the Bombay High Court in a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS). The court had flagged the lake near T S Chanakya along Palm Beach Road as ecologically sensitive and under threat from dumping, and directed authorities to ensure its protection and restoration.

“The court treated such water bodies as part of a fragile ecological system requiring safeguards, rather than exclusion,” said NMEPS member Sandeep Sareen.

Critics also questioned the committee’s reliance on inputs from CIDCO, particularly regarding development plans and land-use classifications. NatConnect Director B N Kumar said the Union environment ministry had clarified that identifying wetlands falls under the jurisdiction of the State Wetlands Authority, not planning agencies like CIDCO.

The report has also been faulted for not adequately factoring in inputs from scientific bodies. While the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management was cited for data on water body size, its findings did not influence the committee’s final recommendations.

For NRI–Flamingo Point, the panel cited its inclusion in a planned development zone, where proposals such as a golf course have been floated. Similar reasoning was applied to T S Chanakya, where institutional land use and development considerations were prioritised.

Other sites, including Lotus Lake and Jewel of Navi Mumbai, were also excluded on grounds ranging from historical land use to artificial creation for stormwater management.

Activists argue that the panel has overlooked the broader definition of wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, which includes both natural and artificial water bodies. They warn that the decision could weaken protections for critical flamingo habitats and accelerate ecological degradation in Navi Mumbai.