Maharashtra govt to revive Sewri flamingo tourism proposal

MUMBAI: The state government is attempting to revive a proposal that seeks to declare the Sewri mudflats, famed for attracting the pink-feathered flamingos, a tourism zone.

The plan is to go for specialized development in and around the area to attract more visitors.

Viewing galleries and other facilities to help visitors spot the flamingos, which visit the area every year from the Rann of Kutch, will be part of the initial plan for the zone to be prepared by the tourism department with BMC help.

Jayant Patil, guardian minister of the island city, visited the mudflats on Monday and held a meeting with officials of the BMC and the Mumbai Port Trust to chalk out a blueprint for the proposal.

Patil said the officials had identified a tract of land overlooking the mudflats where most of the facilities can be built without going for major reclamation or causing damage to the flamingo habitat.

"This land has hard rock underneath and can hold the construction we plan to do for the development of the site as a tourist zone," Patil said. "There is much that can be done for the preservation of this site. Most people still do not visit this site because of lack of awareness."


BMC had floated a similar proposal, but it never saw the light of day as conservationists opposed it.

Conservationists are opposed to government plans to open the land around the site for development of infrastructure projects and other private urbanization as they say reclamation and construction will destroy the natural habitat.