Working with forest dept, Neeri to conserve Ambazari lake: NMC

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has surveyed Ambazari lake with the forest department, and entrusted National Environment Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) with the task of preparing a plan to conserve the lake and its surrounding flora and fauna. This was stated in an affidavit on Thursday before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court in the sou motu PIL regarding death of scores of fish in Ambazari lake due to pollution.
In its affidavit, NMC informed the court about its plan to conserve the lake, and its surroundings. After its joint survey of the lake with the forest department, NMC has asked Neeri to prepare a plan in three months to remove phytoplankton, a plant species that reduces oxygen capacity in water body.
The civic body will also tie up with the forest department to close 22 entry points from where illegal cattle grazers are gaining access. While Neeri is preparing a report to save aquatic life, the forest department will clean the lake of slush, which will be used as manure in city during plantation drives. The forest department has already planted 15,000 saplings in the lake’s periphery.
Discharge of industrial waste from Wadi MIDC too was raised during the hearing. NMC informed that it plans to set up a sewage treatment plant (STP) on the banks. The proposal is pending with Maharashtra Jeevan Vikas Pradhikaran (MJVP). The court directed the authority to submit its reply in a week regarding the STP.
On June 26, expressing concern over large number of fish dying in Ambazari Lake due to pollution, the court had directed Wadi Municipal Council to stop sewage flowing into the water body. MJVP was told to file a report on steps taken to clean the lake and save aquatic life.
Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) was added respondent to the case and asked to take steps to minimize human and cattle intrusions around the lake under forest area. NMC was told to increase lake’s oxygen capacity by reducing phytoplankton. All respondents were told to complete formalities within three weeks and file report.
The series of directives came while hearing suo motu PIL (No 23/2019) based on a TOI report on scores of dead fish in Ambazari due to pollution. TOI has been following this issue since 2014. TOI had reported that fish usually die during summer but sometimes even in winters. The corporation allows lake water to be used for drinking and non-drinking purposes in MIDC Hingna, CRPF Colony, and Ambazari Swimming Pool.
Earlier, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Neeri had filed their reports on cause of fish deaths. Both organizations came up with similar findings. MPCB had informed HC that turbidity and bacterial contamination was observed in the lake to a big extent, while biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were observed to be above drinking water level standards, mainly due to incoming water streams carrying contaminated water.