CIDCO's Valuation of Flamingo Lake at Rs 3,600 Crore Sparks Controversy

Navi Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has placed a staggering real estate value of Rs 3,600 crore on a 12-hectare wetland in Nerul, known as the DPS Flamingo Lake. This valuation has sparked controversy and criticism from residents and environmental activists who argue that the area should be granted protected status to preserve its ecological significance.

In a resolution note presented to its governing board last year, CIDCO described the DPS Flamingo Lake area as a land parcel earmarked for development. The corporation claimed that the 12-hectare site was 'wrongly' proposed for conservation despite being tagged for future development in Navi Mumbai's sanctioned plan. The governing board has authorized the CIDCO managing director to take up the issue with the state government and block any proposal to declare the area a conservation reserve.

The state has yet to issue a Government Resolution (GR) granting the area conservation reserve status, as announced earlier. Despite this, the State Wildlife Board, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, passed a resolution a year ago to conserve the lake, according to B N Kumar, director of the environmental NGO NatConnect.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has expressed his commitment to preserving the wetland. However, the Urban Development Department, under which CIDCO operates, appears to be resistant. CIDCO has again stalled the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's efforts to widen water channels at the lake, as per Naik's directive. This has led to the interruption of the free flow of intertidal water, which is crucial for the lake's rejuvenation, according to green groups.

'Cidco is ignoring the fact that the Flamingo Lake is among the wetlands documented by the State Wetland Authority and is part of the waterbodies mapped under the National Wetland Atlas,' said Kumar. Conservationists argue that the wetland already enjoys protection under a Bombay High Court order, which CIDCO has contested in the Supreme Court.

The Cidco note stated that the land in Sector 52, Nerul, forms part of Survey No. 266 of Karave village and is categorized as a 'Future Development' zone. CIDCO maintains that the plot lies on the landward side of the High Tide Line and that, under the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of 2019, most of the parcel is outside Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions.

However, environmentalists like Rekha Sankhala, convenor of the Save Mangroves & Flamingos Forum, argue that Navi Mumbai has already been developed to its limits. 'Planners must now focus on open spaces and biodiversity. The city cannot be turned entirely into a concrete jungle,' she said. Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society called CIDCO's argument untenable. 'We are aghast that CIDCO claims to be a sustainable city planner while overriding environmental protection,' he said. He also noted that the DPS Lake functions as a holding pond, preventing surrounding neighborhoods from flooding during heavy rain.

The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental conservation in rapidly growing urban areas like Navi Mumbai. As the city continues to expand, the preservation of natural habitats and biodiversity remains a critical issue for both residents and policymakers.