Green warriors advocating for the preservation of DPS Lake are celebrating a significant victory as the State Government has committed to conserving Nerul's DPS Lake, a crucial habitat for flamingos. A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Revenue and Forest Department has established a high-level committee chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department. This committee's mandate is to devise strategies for safeguarding the lake, recognized as a natural habitat for flamingos.

Key members of the committee include the Principal Secretaries of the Environment and Urban Development departments, the Managing Director of the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the Commissioner of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the CEO of the Maharashtra Maritime Board, the District Collector of Thane, and Pravin Pardeshi, Chairman of the Bombay Natural History Society. The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangrove Cell) serves as the member secretary.

Speaking to Newsband, Shri Rama Rao, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, stated, "We have received the directive and all committee members will collaborate to formulate a viable plan for the restoration and conservation of DPS Lake in accordance with the State Government's guidelines."

The initiative comes amid concerns over the deaths of ten flamingos during the current season, prompting outrage among environmentalists and bird enthusiasts. The matter of restoring the 30-acre DPS Lake was extensively discussed in the Maharashtra State Assembly on its opening day. State Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar announced the formation of a committee to propose measures aimed at protecting the natural habitats of flamingos.

Environmental groups and concerned citizens have long campaigned for the protection of DPS Lake, organizing activities such as human chains to raise awareness. Located adjacent to DPS School in Seawoods, Nerul, DPS Lake attracts tens of thousands of flamingos annually during the migratory bird season from March to November. Despite low water levels, these migratory birds frequented the lake daily, with many succumbing to starvation.

Reports indicate that the non-functional Nerul Jetty has significantly hindered intertidal water flow, exacerbating the lake's ecological challenges. Despite repeated appeals by environmental groups, corrective actions have not been undertaken.

Green groups welcomed the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Revenue and Forest Department. NatConnect Foundation pointed out, “CIDCO has been making attempts to usurp the 30-acre wetland for real estate development and it even filed a complaint against the NMMC for opening the choked water inlets on the instructions of Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik”.

NatConnect director B N Kumar submitted a letter to CIDCO chief planner N C Bias requesting him to look into the violations at DPS Lake while constructing the passenger water transport terminal and the latter promised to refer the issue to an internal committee.