World Migratory Bird Day: Activist Hold Silent March to Save Flamingo Lakes

Navi Mumbai: Environmental groups and citizen activists will organise a silent march in Navi Mumbai on Saturday, May 9, on the occasion of World Migratory Bird Day, to demand urgent protection of the city's flamingo wetlands and fragile biodiversity. The march, themed #SaveFlamingoLakes, will begin at NRI Lake near Vanashree Building in Seawoods, NRI Phase-2, and conclude at DPS Flamingo Lake between 8 am and 9 am.World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a UN-driven global campaign observed on May 10 and Oct 11 to raise awareness about the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats. This year's theme, "Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities," highlights the importance of urban ecosystems in safeguarding avian biodiversity.The Navi Mumbai march aims to highlight the alarming ecological stress affecting wetlands that serve as important habitats for migratory flamingos and several other bird species, said B N Kumar, director of the NatConnect Foundation. The recent water sample tests conducted at the three wetlands revealed deteriorating ecological conditions caused by stagnant water and thick algal cover across the High Court-protected wetland zones.The toxic condition of these wetlands is not only affecting bird life, but also weakening the wetlands' crucial ecological role as natural flood buffers for the city, Kumar said. "Though flamingos have started arriving at the NRI Lake, albeit belatedly this season, they are yet to return to the TS Chanakya and DPS wetlands," said Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS)."The stagnant water, unchecked algal growth, and declining water quality have created unfavourable conditions for the birds," Sareen said. Climate change has delayed the arrival of flamingos in recent years. If their feeding and resting habitats continue to deteriorate, the long-term survival of these migratory populations in Navi Mumbai could be at serious risk, said Rekha Sankhala of the Save Flamingos and Mangroves Forum.Environmentalists have also raised concerns over the decision of the Thane District Wetlands Committee to deny formal wetland status to the three lakes based on submissions made by CIDCO. "The Bombay High Court issued clear guidelines for protecting these wetlands. Yet the official wetland tag has been denied, undermining conservation efforts," Sareen said. The issue has also come under the scrutiny of the National Green Tribunal.Activists pointed out that a joint inspection committee appointed by the tribunal recently directed CIDCO to ensure conservation of the DPS Flamingo Lake. When CIDCO claimed the waterbody was merely a land parcel earmarked for future development, the committee firmly advised authorities to ‘realign the Development Plan' to safeguard the lake, said environmentalists.
Check Madhyamik Result 2026 online at TOI and real-time WB 10th result updates.