Navi Mumbai's iconic Jewel has become a focal point of outrage among environmentalists due to ongoing debris dumping at the site. The dumping, allegedly by a contractor of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has sparked concerns over the environmental impact on the waterbody's rejuvenation efforts.

Dharmesh Barai, head of the Environment Life Foundation and a regular visitor to the area, emphasized the need for caution during the rejuvenation work. He expressed concern over the interconnected holding ponds, highlighting their significance in maintaining the area's mangrove ecosystem. Barai urged city engineers and contractors to prioritize environmental preservation during desilting activities.

Sunil Agarwal, founder of the Save Navi Mumbai Environment group, criticized the continuous debris dumping, warning of its adverse effects on the lake's holding capacity. Agarwal questioned the discrepancy in treating the Jewel of Navi Mumbai as a holding pond despite its status as an intertidal water body. He raised concerns about the impact of rejuvenation work on the habitat of migratory birds, particularly flamingos, whose numbers have seen a significant increase in recent years.

Agarwal cited the recent deaths of 13 flamingos at DPS Lake due to habitat loss, underscoring the urgency of protecting wildlife habitats amidst development projects.

In response, Arvind Shinde, Executive Engineer at NMMC, clarified that an approach road is being constructed for transportation purposes during the upcoming desilting and rejuvenation work. He attributed the accumulation of debris to the ongoing road construction and assured that it would be promptly removed once the roadwork is completed.