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The flamingos that fly down to the wetlands in Navi Mumbai every year to feast on the aquatic life here, have met with a crappy welcome this year. The DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul, which draws thousands of avid birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts keen to observe the pink birds, is overrun with sewage. 

This despite the fact that a wetland emergency was declared in three major waterbird habitats within the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary Ramsar site. 

Green groups have demanded the immediate reopening of the lake’s main southern water channel from the creek, which they allegedly say was buried during construction of an access road to the water transport passenger terminal.

The lake is one of the few remaining feeding grounds for the pink birds. File pic

Expert opinion from a senior environmental scientist familiar with wetland ecology has reinforced fears that the lake water has turned toxic because of organic waste, making the wetland unsuitable as a feeding ground for water birds, according to a statement by NatConnect Foundation.

The warning is underscored by a red flag: flamingos have not arrived at the lake this season, said NatConnect director B N Kumar.

The situation has worsened, with thick sheets of algae spreading across the lake surface, turning the water body into what resembles dense sludge. Forest department teams have begun clean-up operations, Kumar said.

“These thick layers of algae are not suitable for flamingos to rest or roost on,” read the NatConnect statement, quoting a scientist.

When informed that local activists had also spotted froth and traces of oil on the water surface, the scientist said these could be signs of urban or industrial sewage entering the wetland.

Kumar said a major drain connects to the lake through two inlets and outlets. While creek water enters the lake during high tide, sewage flowing towards the creek also finds its way into the wetland.

Conservationist Jyoti Nadkarni said, “Stagnant water not being fully flushed out during low tide was also contributing to algae growth. Contaminated water does not support the microorganisms and small fish that sustain flamingos and other water birds.”

Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society, which is fighting legal battles to protect the lake, said he was shocked to see froth floating on the wetland’s surface.

Activists have long demanded action

NatConnect Foundation had earlier commissioned water sample testing by SSAS Laboratory, which showed severe ecological stress. Key indicators, including TDS, pH, BOD and COD, were far beyond safe limits, pointing to stagnant water, heavy organic pollution and significant chemical contamination.

The environmental organisation had earlier escalated the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office in a World Water Day appeal, following which the Centre referred the matter to the Maharashtra State Wetland Authority.