Navi Mumbai News: RTI Reveals Lotus Lake Listed In National Wetland Atlas By NCSCM, Contradicting CIDCO’s Denial

Navi Mumbai: Environmentalists have found fresh evidence showing that Lotus Lake was not only listed in the National Wetland Atlas but also inspected and documented by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)—contradicting CIDCO’s continued denial of its wetland status.

According to NatConnect Foundation, which obtained documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Maharashtra State Environment Department had tasked NCSCM with mapping and briefly documenting major wetlands across the state. The evidence includes a list of 564 wetlands surveyed by NCSCM across districts such as Thane, Raigad, Nagpur, Pune, and others. Notably, in the Thane district list, Lotus Lake is placed at the very top.

Other Navi Mumbai wetlands such as NRI (Flamingo Point), TS Chanakya, and Jewel of Navi Mumbai were also included in this official inspection. NatConnect director BN Kumar pointed out that this evidence directly contradicts CIDCO’s refusal to acknowledge Lotus Lake as a wetland.

Kumar has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), calling for urgent action against CIDCO’s alleged attempts to suppress the wetland status of Lotus Lake. The MoEFCC has forwarded the complaint to Maharashtra Environment Department.

As per the RTI, in Raigad district, the NCSCM has surveyed 18 wetlands, including ecologically sensitive areas such as Panje, Boripakdi, Khopte, Sheva, Karal, and Kharghar. However, Kumar expressed concern that significant wetlands like Belpada and Bhendkhal—both listed in the National Wetland Atlas—were not included in NCSCM’s inspection.

"These wetlands have already been allocated for development: Belpada to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Bhendkhal to Navi Mumbai SEZ (NMSEZ). Panje too falls under NMSEZ, and the NGO Vanashakti continues its legal fight to protect it," Kumar said.

NatConnect has now urged the Maharashtra Environment Department to accelerate the mapping and official notification of over 1,500 remaining major wetlands in the state. “Formal recognition is essential to ensure long-term protection and conservation of these water bodies,” Kumar added.

news