God save our noble lakes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a popular saying in the city which says, “Taalon me taal Bhopal ka taal baki sab talaiya hai” (If there exists a lake anywhere in true sense, it is in Bhopal). Though there is a common consensus among the citizens of the city on this saying but what will happen if there will be no lakes to boast of about the water bodies of the city. The lakes of the city are suffering and the number is surprising in its way as the situation is almost same at every water body of the city. Looking at the pity conditions of water bodies, it seems that the attack on the bodies is multi dimensional where the domains of these dimensions include filth, eutrophication and what not. Aggravating these grave issues is the red tapism and the negligence of the concerned authorities. Notably, the Government has introduced the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) 2.0 which aims to revive the water bodies of the state and country and to make proper arrangements for the sewage disposal in the city. “We have made proper strategy for the sewage disposal in the lakes under AMRUT 2.0 mission and will be ruled out soon.” Additional Commissioner of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), Nidhi Singh told ‘The Hitavada’ which was also reiterated by Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan who too, stressed on the rejuvenation mission for the redressal of the issue.

 

When ‘The Hitavada’ confronted the commissioner over the mission and asked that the scheme has not been ruled out till now and in the dearth of any proper sewage management and the onset of monsoon, the objective of the scheme will be failed. he accepted the point and said, “Yes there is a long way to go over the issue but things will be done through a proper process and no one can’t do anything over the matter.” Significantly, the process of implementation includes tender filing and finalisation which itself is a lengthy process and it is feared that as the fresh drizzles of the monsoon will pour over the contaminated water of the lakes, the efforts made till now will become null and void. The prestigious Bhoj Wetlands which hold the distinction of being a Ramsar site is no exception over the issue. In the second day of the ongoing ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’, chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav along with some members of state council of ministers and office bearers of the corporation, had extended his hand for cleaning the parts of Lower lake but no difference can be observed at the place. The lake still resembles itself as an aquatic garbage heap with narrow currents of sewage water flowing into the river.

 

 

 

 

The river water has become green which is a result of eutrophication and other environmental phenomenon. World lake database by International Lake Environment Committee has also made similar observations over the lake but it seems that the blind eye of the authorities will only open on an aquatic apocalypse of the bodies. Even the majestic Upper Lake or Bhojtal along with the Lower Lake which is home and provides support to 700 species of flora and 150 species of fauna seems like extinct from certain stretches. At Bhadbada, though the district administration made haste over the demolishing the houses of the illegal residents of the area on the grounds of environmental concerns but has somewhat forget to actually take care of the environment. The lake is stinking and the filth and waste can be witnessed from a naked eye at the spot.