Activists seek urgent notification of Conservation Reserve status and stronger protection for Nerul wetland.

The Criticism

Environmentalists have criticised the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) for describing DPS Flamingo Lake in Nerul as “vacant land” in a tender for a flamingo habitat study. They have urged the Maharashtra government to expedite the formal notification granting the ecologically sensitive wetland Conservation Reserve status. NatConnect Foundation has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging that CIDCO’s description undermines the state wildlife board’s decision to declare the lake a Conservation Reserve. NatConnect director B N Kumar said the government resolution formalizing the status had reportedly been pending for nearly a year, according to a Forest Department response to a Right to Information (RTI) query.

Environmentalists have also questioned the need for another study. Rekha Shankhala of the Save Flamingos and Mangroves Forum urged authorities to publish findings from previous studies and clarify the status of the proposed reserve. Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Protection Society alleged that CIDCO had disregarded High Court rulings recognising the site as a wetland. He also claimed that the blocking of intertidal water flow had harmed the lake’s ecological character.

CIDCO’s tender, dated October 27, 2026, seeks an expert to study the flamingo habitat near DPS, Nerul, close to Navi Mumbai International Airport. The proposed study will run for six months, and eligible consultants must have experience in bird-hazard assessments at airports. Environmental groups have highlighted recommendations by the Bombay Natural History Society to protect wetlands around the airport, including DPS Flamingo Lake, NRI Lake and TS Chanakya Lake. They have called for prompt government action to secure the wetland’s long-term protection.

Civic body steps up action against defaulters to recover outstanding property tax dues.

The Tax

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its property tax recovery drive, with 2,515 properties facing seizure over unpaid taxes. The civic body has reportedly recovered Rs 143.5 crore as part of its efforts to collect outstanding dues.

The action is aimed at property owners who have failed to clear their pending tax payments. The corporation is taking steps to recover the dues and ensure that taxpayers fulfil their financial obligations to the civic administration.

Property tax is an important source of revenue for the NMMC and helps fund essential civic services, including road maintenance, sanitation, water supply and other infrastructure projects. The move to initiate seizure proceedings against properties highlights the corporation’s efforts to improve tax collection and deal with long-pending defaults. Property owners with outstanding dues may face further action if they fail to make the required payments.

The recovery drive is expected to put pressure on defaulters to clear their pending taxes and help strengthen the civic body’s revenue collection.

Party cites over 40 deaths and 80 serious injuries, seeks speed breakers, streetlights and round-the-clock traffic policing.

The Demand

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has demanded immediate road safety measures near Turbhe railway station and the adjoining Thane-Belapur highway, alleging that poor road engineering and administrative negligence have made the stretch dangerous for commuters and pedestrians.

A party delegation submitted a memorandum to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioner, city engineer and Turbhe police, seeking urgent action to prevent further accidents. According to the memorandum, more than 40 people have died and over 80 have suffered serious injuries in accidents in the area. The death of a woman pedestrian on October 26 has renewed concerns over road safety, the party said.

The delegation demanded scientifically designed speed breakers, rumble strips, high-mast streetlights, clearly marked zebra crossings and safety barricades on the highway stretch from Panvel towards Thane. It also sought accountability for officials allegedly responsible for safety lapses, compensation for accident victims and their families, and legal action against engineers found negligent. The party urged traffic police to deploy personnel round the clock at the junction opposite Turbhe station and other accident-prone locations. It also called for CCTV surveillance and strict action against speeding, signal violations and wrong-side driving.

Additionally, the delegation demanded the removal of illegal tempo stands and unauthorised parking, along with towing of illegally parked vehicles.

The delegation included divisional chief Pravin Patil, party worker Balkrishna Khaparde and branch chief Akash Itkar, among others. The party warned that if speed breakers and other safety measures were not implemented within seven days, it would stage a protest outside the NMMC headquarters under district chief Prakash Patil’s guidance.