Our Activities

Through concerted and persistent effort over a period of years, NMEPS managed to preserve the Seawoods Lake (also known as the DPS Lake). With CIDCO claiming that the lake is nothing but a ‘low lying area where rainwater fills up’ and earmarking the lake for reclamation and development of high rise buildings, NMEPS protested and presented their case all the way till the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Ministry of Urban Development, and eventually to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra himself.
Our perseverance paid off and we have got a letter from the MCZMA confirming that the area is Eco-sensitive and staying any development on it.
It’s not over till it’s over though – the fight continues. We won’t stop until we have made sure the lake is absolutely safe. It is a great habitat for flamingos, egrets, cormorants, and many such species. It is also crucial to fishermen in the area, and of course to the mangroves that surround the lake on two sides.

• 1. File a PIL in Bombay High Court for removal of illegal structures in protected mangroves and stopping of debris dumping in lakes and wetlands of Navi Mumbai.
• 2. In order to have positive effect and reduce environment impact, it is proposed to start a “Green School” project in Navi Mumbai. The schools will actually measure and take steps to reduce water/energy consumptions, waste generation etc. It is proposed to recognize the best school as Green School.
• 3. Produce a wall calendar giving various environment and social conscious days in 2013-14.It is proposed to conduct activities on some of these days involving school children and neighboring housing societies of Navi Mumbai.
• 4. Your society is in the process of obtaining approval from Income Tax Department under 80G so that the donors get the tax benefit on their donations.

Wetlands includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
Wetlands are vital for human survival. They are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Please visit the Ramsar site for more details…

Event Date: 22nd November 2014 This was planned especially for schoolchildren. About 250 students from 15 different schools participated along with many local residents. They were taken around the DPS lake and explained the importance of mangroves by experts. This was followed by presentations and talks. An audio visual presentation was made on the need of preservation otherwise Navi Mumbai could be struck by natural disasters like Srinagar. Officials from Forest Department explained the different types of mangroves and their importance. All participants were given a certificate in which he/she will have to pledge saving the wetlands.

Event Date: 26th July 2014 In association with the Forest Dept, NMEPS organised a mangrove plantation drive. This was done in an area where mangroves had been destroyed. Over 200 saplings were obtained from the Forest Department (mangrove Cell) courtesy Ms. Seema Adgaonkar, Range Forest Officer. Residents, including children, gathered in front of DPS School Navi Mumbai and marched in a procession carrying banners and placards to the plantation site. Despite the wet and slippery mud, all the saplings were planted. Ms. Adgaonkar and Dr. Dhiren Pania, a mangrove expert, explained the different type of mangroves and their importance. It was agreed that such plantations will be done regularly so that mangrove forests can be regenerated.

Event Date: 1st February, 2014 In order to raise the awareness about the importance of Wetlands amongst citizens of Navi Mumbai, particularly school children, NMEPS organized a seminar on the occasion of the World Wetlands Day on 1st February, 2014 at Delhi Public School. The topic was Preservation of Wetlands and way forward. The Chief Guest was Mr. N Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangrove cell). Other speakers were Dr. Anjali Paranis, Regional Director TERI, Dr. Raju Kasambe, BNHS, Ms Sravani Rao, Principal DPS, Ms. Rituja Mokal, Vanashakti and school children of DPS and Podar International School. Over 350 children from various schools participated and heard the presentations in pin drop silence. The presentations were of high quality and relevant leading to questions from the children. The seminar was appreciated by all and the participating schools wanted more such activities. We would like to thank all the participating schools, speakers and DPS in making the Seminar a grand success.

NMEPS members keep a continuous vigil on the mangroves and wet lands of Navi Mumbai to check if any fresh encroachments are being made and debris dumped. In Jan 2013 it was noticed that a temple is being built within 50 meters of mangroves. This is illegal and NMEPS wrote to various authorities to stop and demolish the illegal structure. The temple was demolished after careful due diligence by CIDCO.

Event Date: 21st April 2013 NMEPS organized a Save Mangroves Walk on Sunday 21st April 2013 to draw the attention of the authorities on children on the importance of mangroves ecosystem. The walk started at 7am from DPS Lake and proceeded along the creek side of Palm Beach Road to TS Chanakya. Over 300 children participated. There were experts who spoke to small groups on the importance on mangroves. The activity was covered by media.

Event Date: 5th June, 2013 On the occasion of the World Environment Day, 5th June, 2013, NMEPS organized a SloganContest for Navi Mumbai school children on the was the UN theme of THINK- EAT- SAVE. There was a positive response and a jury picked up the winners who were given a porcelain mug as a memento. This contest was part of NMEPS’s efforts to involve schools and increase the awareness of children on environment issues.

Event Date: 21st March 2013 On the occasion of the World Forestry Day, the Forest Range Officer Navi Mumbai organized a mangrove plantation in Sector 58, Nerul. Many members of NMEPS and other Navi Mumbai residents participated. It is important that the Ecosystem is restored and NMEPS plans more such activities in the future.

Event Date: 21st March 2013 On the occasion of the World Forestry Day, the Forest Range Officer Navi Mumbai organized a mangrove plantation in Sector 58, Nerul. Many members of NMEPS and other Navi Mumbai residents participated. It is important that the Ecosystem is restored and NMEPS plans more such activities in the future.

The Lake situated near Delhi Public School in sector 52, Nerul is about 30 acres water body which is a habitat for migratory birds like Flamingos Debris was being dumped and CIDCO had planned to fill it up to develop the area. Residents protested and got a stay from Chief Minister in July 2010. However, debris continued to be dumped and the channels connecting the lake to creek were blocked. As no action was being taken by CIDCO to clear the lake, the society organized “Shramadaan” (a volunteer service) on April 16th 2012. Over 300 residents participated and cleared some debris and cleared water channels connecting the lake to the Panvel Creek. The participants included children and senior citizens who came from all parts of Mumbai. With various representations and follow up with the concerned authorities, NMEPS got a copy of the letter from the Konkan Commissioner dated 19/10/2012 to MD CIDCO advising him to keep the channels connecting the lake to creek are kept open for free flow of water. Furthermore, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) wrote to MD CIDCO on 16.01.2013 mentioning that the Lake near DPS shall not be reclaimed as it is Eco sensitive.

In order to increase the awareness about the importance of mangroves, migratory birds, NMEPS organised a nature trail in June, 2012 with the assistance of experts from Bombay Natural History societies participated and became aware of the flora and fauna in Nerul, Navi Mumbai and the importance of the Mangroves in protecting the natural catastrophes.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as a part of Navi Mumbai ECOCITY project, has identified the lake near Delhi Public School as an important habitat for flamingos. NMEPS sponsored a sign board on Palm Beach Road, which has a photograph of the flamingos who migrate to the lake and can be spotted.

To increase the awareness among the school children, an Essay Competition titled “Importance of the Wetland in our Lives was organized by NMEPS in Feb 2012. The participants of Navi Mumbai groups. There was a good response with more than 250 entries. An expert jury evaluated the entries and prizes were distributed to the winners in the respective schools. The schools were also presented with Mementos.

Some of the important interim orders that have been received from the Honorable High Court are to

• Appointment of Senior Counsel Shiraz Rustomjee as Amicus Curie
• Barring CIDCO from dumping any debris on DPS Lake and area behind Chanakya
• Appointment of Nodal officers from CIDCO & Forest Dept to ensure that no further debris is dumped, and instruction to the ACP Turbhe division to provide necessary police protection to various authorities in carrying on their duties for demolition of illegal structures and stopping debris dumping.
• Barricading the roads leading up to mangroves to prevent trucks full of debris or construction material entering forest areas.
• Clean up of existing debris in the wetland areas.

To increase the awareness among the school children, an Essay Competition titled “Importance of the Wetland in our Lives was organized by NMEPS in Feb 2012. The participants of Navi Mumbai Schools were divided into Junior and Senior groups. There was a good response with more than 250 entries. An expert jury evaluated the entries and prizes were distributed to the winners in the respective schools. The schools were also presented with Mementos.

In response to an initiative from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), NMEPS has proposed to conduct a research study titled “Assessment of mangrove biodiversity and dependence of migratory birds in the wetland areas of Navi Mumbai City” The study proposes to assess mangrove biodiversity and dependence of migratory birds in the wetland areas of Navi Mumbai City.

while also involving the local youth. The study would also identify the most vulnerable areas and specific combinations of mangrove forests and migratory bird species that are at most risk of being lost.

Dissemination of information for long term sustenance of these mangrove eco-systems would be one of the critical outputs of this exercise. It is proposed to involve local students from schools / colleges in this exercise.NMEPS will provide all necessary infrastructural facilities (both laboratory and administrative) if the project is sanctioned. The project’s estimated cost of Rs 8.8 lakhs will be partially reimbursed by the MoEF as per the tenets of the MoEF initiative.

Members will be pleased to note that our project has been shortlisted and revised project report has been sent to MoEF in May 2014 for final evaluation.

NMEPS has designed a beautiful calendar for 2015 that highlights important environmental dates and explains their significance.