A proposal to significantly expand the DPS Flamingo Lake Conservation Reserve in Navi Mumbai is awaiting final approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The plan seeks to increase the protected area from 12 hectares to nearly 36 hectares, strengthening conservation efforts around one of the region’s key ecological zones.
The revised proposal was submitted in October 2025 by the Mangrove Cell and the Forest Department, according to information accessed by NatConnect Foundation through the RTI Act. The expansion has gained attention as it coincides with a separate proposal by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to develop the original 12-hectare lake parcel for real estate purposes.
CIDCO has classified the lake as a “plot” and estimated its value at Rs 3,600 crore, based on a rate of Rs 300 crore per hectare. The move has sparked concern among environmental groups, especially given the ecological importance of the site.
Conservationists remain hopeful, noting that the proposal had earlier received clearance at the State Wildlife Board meeting on April 17, 2025. A formal government notification is now awaited.
NatConnect Director B N Kumar said the organisation is closely monitoring developments through RTI applications and has urged authorities to expedite legal protection for the expanded reserve. Environmental groups argue that the habitat supports more than just open water ecosystems, including mangroves, feeding zones, and tidal areas critical for migratory birds.
Sandeep Sareen of Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society emphasised that a larger protected area would reduce the scope for commercial development while safeguarding biodiversity over the long term.
As per updated mapping, the proposed reserve will include water bodies, mangrove belts, creek systems, and marshland areas, ensuring ecological continuity and natural water flow.
Rekha Sankhala of the Save Flamingos and Mangroves forum warned that any conversion of the wetland into built infrastructure could lead to irreversible environmental damage, further diminishing Navi Mumbai’s fragile wetland ecosystem.
Source: Deccan Herald
