Title: Navi Mumbai’s Controversial Move: De-Reserving Water Body Plots Sparks Environmental Criticism
Subtitle: NMMC’s Decision to Reallocate Protected Water Body Land Draws Ire from Environmentalists
In a contentious move, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is under fire for de-reserving plots on protected water bodies, a decision that has environmentalists expressing deep concerns. The move is part of NMMC’s new development plan, the first in over three decades, designed to shape the city’s growth for the next twenty years. However, critics argue that this decision appears to be thinly veiled, favoring the real estate sector over environmental conservation efforts.
Environmentalists Raise Alarms: NMMC’s Shift Threatens Biodiversity and Local Livelihoods
Local environmentalists, including B N Kumar, the Director of NatConnect Foundation, have expressed dismay, terming the decision a “major environmental shock.” Kumar emphasized the shortsightedness of the approach, underscoring the crucial role wetlands play in biodiversity, the livelihoods of local fishing communities, and their function as vital water absorbers. Kumar recalled the irony of suggesting the name “Flamingo City” for Navi Mumbai in 2019, a time when municipal initiatives were focused on flamingo conservation.
Past Efforts Overturned: Former Commissioner’s Conservation Moves Face Setback
Former municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar’s earlier attempts to conserve flamingo destinations, including the DPS Lake, now face obstacles from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), according to Kumar. The current move to de-reserve wetlands contradicts previous conservation efforts, raising questions about the city’s commitment to environmental preservation.
Community Backlash: Concerns Over Sustainability and Livability Ignored
Sunil Agrawal, Founder of Save Navi Mumbai Environment Group, echoed similar concerns, highlighting that the revised NMMC draft proposes residential towers on wetlands, disregarding their protected status as per Supreme Court orders. Agrawal criticized decisions made without the involvement of elected representatives and expressed worries about the city’s sustainability and liveability in the face of such environmental shifts.
