Nerul: Repeated attempts to reclaim the Lotus Lake in sector 27 Nerul, was brought to a stop following protests by environmental activists and the intervention of Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre. The attempts which began on May 31 – with the removal of fencing around the lake installed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and dumping of debris in the lake – have been stopped for now.

Seven truckloads of debris were brought near the lake and dumped in the lake with the help of earthmovers. A person posing as a contractor had claimed that work orders had been issued by CIDCO to fill the lake.

“We put our complaints to Thane collector, Raigad collector and CIDCO and other concerned authorities, but no one is ready to hear our demand to stop the activity. CIDCO, despite being a part of the High Court appointed committee for the protection of wetlands, is adamant about reclaiming the lake flouting the order of Bombay High Court and Supreme Court,” Sunil Agarwal, founder, Save Navi Mumbai Environment, said.

Following protests, the activity was called off on May 31 and the people involved vanished from the scene. Work resumed on June 4 which forced alert citizens to rush to the lake and stop the earth-filling activity.

A public interest litigation was also filed before the Bombay High Court to conserve the 7.5-acre lake, which is included in the National Wetland Inventory 2017. The earth-filling is happening in clear violation of the Bombay High Court’s order and Supreme Court’s order (2024). NMMC had assured to conserve the ecological hotspot. The civic body had removed the encroachments and installed a fence in the first week of May 2025.

When earth-filling resumed on June 4, environmental activists from the Save Lotus Lake and Save Navi Mumbai Environment groups lodged complaints with NMMC, CIDCO, Thane and Raigad collector. The earth-filling activity was carried out on the orders of the Raigad collector while the lake is situated within Thane district.

The protests forced Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre to rush to the spot. The BJP leader immediately asked those involved in earth-filling to stop the work.

“If the current action continues, it would constitute contempt of the Supreme Court and a blatant violation of environmental norms,” Adv Pradeep Patole, who filed the PIL, said.

CIDCO officials were unavailable for comment. 

MLA Mhatre later issued a letter addressed to the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, and CIDCO and NMMC officials demanding immediate stoppage of the work to reclaim the lake.