World Migratory Bird Event
assets/blog-post/Documents obtained by NatConnect show that CIDCO is guilty of blocking the tidal water flow to DPS Flamingo Lake in violation of the MOEFCC conditions.
NAVI MUMBAI: On the occasion of the World Migratory Birds Day on May 11, environmental groups have planned a silent human chain to focus attention on the destruction of DPS Flamingo Lake leading to a spate of deaths of the pink avian guests.
The theme for this year's WMD is Insects, the natural food for birds and that is what id being denied to them, said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation.
The deliberate and criminal drying up wetlands such as the DPS Flamingo Lake has been hurting flamingos and hurting the city's biodiversity, Kumar said.
Documents obtained by NatConnect show that CIDCO is guilty of blocking the tidal water flow to DPS Flamingo Lake in violation of the Union Ministry of Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) conditions.
The city planner has obtained the Environmental Clearance for the passenger water transport terminal at Nerul on the condition that the tidal water flow would not be blocked.
Similar condition was laid down in the Government Order issued by the Revenue and Forest Ministry, Kumar said.
Moreover, CIDCO itself has given an undertaking that it would comply with these conditions.
Yet, the main water channel at the south end of the lake was buried in the work in the jetty, Sandeep Sarin of Navi Mumbai Environmental Preservation Society (NMEPS) said .
It is imperative that reopens the channel forthwith, he said.
"My heart breaks when I see the birds getting disoriented in search of food," said Anjali Agrawal of Save Flamingos and Mangroves forum.
Jyoti Nadkarni of Kharghar Hill and Wetlands group said the urban planners must realise the importance of wetlands and biodiversity.
It is sad that the big political talk at the top as regards the environmental protection at the ground level, she pointed out.
All these environmental groups are mobilising support from a cross section have appealed to the people to participate in the human chain for bird safety, NatConnect said in a press release.
It should shock nature lovers that at least 10 birds have died as they got disoriented at DPS Lake, Sareen said.
Under pressure, a CIDCO team led by chief engineer visited the area but no action has yet been taken to release water flow to the lake, NatConnect said.
