Local residents have found that several housing societies have started dumping sewage into Powai lake, which has seen a deterioration in quality of water. After several complaints, the BMC also conducted a detailed survey and found 17 points from where sewage enters the lake. The BMC is yet to narrow down on the culprits.
In 1995, the Ministry and Environment and Forest had carried out a detailed survey under the National Lake Conservation Plan to clean Powai Lake. Through the project, all the culverts dumping sewage water into the lake were shut and only storm water drains with floodgates were allowed to lead into the lake to ensure that during monsoons, storm water drains would only bring rainwater into the lake.
The project was completed in a couple of years and for the next three years there was strict monitoring of the water quality.
However, years later, things have gone back to how they were over a decade ago. By BMC’s own admission, the floodgates installed around the lake are opened late in the night to let in sewage water in to the lake.
“It is observed that some anti-social elements open the floodgates and let drain water into the lake. This has increased the growth of the water hyacinth, thereby affecting the eco-system of the lake,” states a BMC report.”
The report has been sent out to the BMC’s vigilance department and several other concerned agencies, but in vain. “It is sad that despite being after government agencies to protect the lake, all we get in return are letters and reports confirming what we already know,” said SK Saksena, who has been working on the betterment of the lake for the past two decades.
When Mumbai Mirror contacted Rajeev Jalota, BMC’s additional municipal commissioner, he said the BMC had identified the points where sewage was being let into the storm water drains. “We have identified 17 points where sewage has leaked into the storm water drains and then flows into the lake,” he said.
The BMC will soon begin work to redirect the sewage into sewage lines and plug the leaks which threatens the lake’s survival. Jalota added that action would be taken against those who have polluted the lakes.
Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com
