Environmentalists Urge CM to Protect Nerul's 12-Hectare DPS Lake

Environmentalists have appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and ensure the protection and revival of the 12-hectare DPS Lake located in Nerul. The water body serves as a crucial habitat for migratory flamingos and more than 120 other bird species.

In an appeal sent on Raksha Bandhan, activists, including representatives from the non-governmental organisation NatConnect Foundation, called on the state government to shield the wetland from ongoing neglect and potential encroachment. The lake, which gets its name from the adjacent Delhi Public School campus, has experienced mounting ecological degradation in recent times.

According to nature lovers, the wetland is currently grappling with severe algae proliferation and poor water circulation. They noted that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) allegedly blocked the natural intertidal water flow to the site. This blockage has left the lake stagnant, filthy, and inhospitable for visiting bird populations.

To prevent the further degradation of the critical wildlife refuge, NatConnect Foundation has specifically requested the Chief Minister to expedite the formal process of granting DPS Lake official Conservation Reserve status. Environmentalists stressed that swift administrative action is essential before flamingos and various bird species lose another key habitat in the region.