Following incidents of flamingo deaths, allegedly due to the birds dashing into the signboard at the Navi Mumbai jetty mid-flight, CIDCO authorities have commenced the board’s removal over the gantry. In response to persistent demands, the dismantling of the board began on Saturday. “Better late than never,” said NatConnect Foundation Director BN Kumar, who has termed the board in question “monstrous” in the past. It had been hindering the safe flight of the migratory birds in and out of the wetland.

A number of nature lovers and environmentalists in the area have been rallying for the board’s demolition, including activists Rekha Sankhala and Jyoti Nadkarni. Advocate Pradeep Patole and Sunil Agarwal of the Save Navi Mumbai Environment group urged the authorities to act. Notably, Kailash Shinde, Joint MD, CIDCO, had promised environmentalist Shruti Agarwal of the same citizens action group that the board would be taken care of.