Nerul: Close on the heels of the Maharashtra government declaring the DPS Lake as wetland reserve, city-based environmentalists are demanding similar status for TS Chanakya and NRI Wetlands.

The demand has got a boost with the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mangrove Cell, confirming in a report dated April 30, 2025, that T S Chanakya and NRI wetlands water bodies are very significant for the environment.

Environmentalists plan to submit the report before the Supreme Court which is hearing the special leave petitions filed by CIDCO and Mistry Constructions. “We will place the Mangrove Cell’s report before the Supreme Court and ask for immediate dismissal of SLPs filed by CIDCO and Mistry Construction pending since 2019 against Bombay High Court order dated November 1, 2018,” Sunil Agarwal, founder, Save Navi Mumbai Environment Group, said.

“We will also demand punitive action against erstwhile CIDCO MD who gave in writing to Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) that the waterbodies were not wetlands so that a private builder can build residential towers here. We will also demand a detailed enquiry by CBI or other competent authority about the entire incident of falsehood,” he added.

Environmentalists have been waging a sustained battle since 2017 to prove that two waterbodies which are already part of National Wetlands Atlas has to be protected.

Since 2017 Sunil Agarwal,  resident of NRI phase II has been relentlessly fighting for the

NRI and TS Chanakya wetlands located in Nerul Navi Mumbai which come under Pocket A, D, E within the Coastal Regulation Zone. While pockets A and D come under CRZ-1, pocket E falls in CRZ-II and no construction is allowed as per CRZ norms. 

Agarwal had filed the PIL in Bombay High Court to protect the lands and prevent its conversion into Golf course and concrete jungle. CIDCO contested the claims stating that NRI and TS Chanakya were not waterbodies but rather accumulation of water over the years.

In April 2025, the 30-acre DPS Lake was declared a Conservation Reserve.

“APCCF mangroves cell confirms T S Chanakya and NRI wetlands are water bodies vide its letter dated April 30, 2025. This is very significant victory for people like us who have been fighting for these wetlands. It’s high time CIDCO withdraws its SLP from Supreme Court and cancels lease agreement with the said construction company, accepts Mangroves cell’s recommendations to declare NRI and TS Chanakya wetlands as conservation reserve,” Agarwal said.

The environmentalists in Navi Mumbai scored another victory after the NMMC cleared all encroachments and debris from Lotus Lake in Nerul and also installed fencing to prevent future encroachments or dumping. The civic corporation was forced to act following directives from the Bombay High Court. has

On April 15, the court had directed the NMMC to take suitable action to preserve the ecologically sensitive lake and submit a report following a PIL filed by advocate Pradeep Patole, highlighting how encroachments and illegal activities posed a threat to the city’s last remaining natural water body.

The Lotus Lake petition, filed to remove encroachment, has been disposed off as the encroachments have been removed, Adv Patole informed.