Thane creek will be soon notified as flamingo sanctuary

Thane: Thane creek will be soon notified as flamingo sanctuary, a top Maharashtra forest officer said on Wednesday.

"Thane creek would be shortly notified as the flamingo sanctuary and regulated tourism will be allowed," said state chief conservator of forest (mangrove cell) N Vasudevan. He was addressing a seminar titled 'Thane Creek Convention', organised by Paryavaran Dakshata Manch, marking World Mangrove Day in Thane.

He said GIS of Germany was providing all possible support for the proposed sanctuary. The Mangrove Cell was was formed in 2012 by the state government. "Encroachments of nearly 1000 hutments was removed and 179 hectares of plantation was undertaken," he added.

The creek, an inlet in the shoreline of the Arabian sea, comprises the area between Mumbra Retibunder and the Mankhurd-Vashi bridge.