Nagpur: Environmentalists in the city have observed almost a two feet drop in Futala lake’s water level in the last 15 days. They claim that water is seeping out through the newly-developed cracks in Futala lake’s wall which were in a dilapidated condition.
On being informed, TOI visited the lake on Monday and found a white mark on the lake’s inner wall. According to the environmentalists, the white mark signifies that the water level is reducing.
Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, which owns the lake, is clueless about the drop in water level. Associate dean DM Panchbhai said they will investigate the cause.
MahaMetro has undertaken Rs85 crore major renovation works at Futala Lake.
Panchbhai said the various ongoing infrastructure works have damaged the pipeline supplying the lake water to Maharajbagh zoo. “The college used to get water from Futala lake until 2016 but the heritage pipeline was damaged five years ago,” he said and added that the university tried to restore the pipeline, but in vain.
Scientists from Neeri said they had submitted a detailed report for rejuvenation of the lake to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The civic body is yet to take any call over this, said the scientist requesting anonymity.
A senior official from NMC’s water works department said that Neeri was approached only to help the civic body in improving lake’s water quality.
Kaustav Chatterjee, founder of Green Vigil Foundation, said, “The drop in water level at this time of the year is surprising. Summer is yet to set in, hence the theory of loss due to evaporation does not hold.”
“Further, water can’t pass through the overflow point which is hydraulically at a higher elevation as compared to water level. Prima facie it seems the water is seeping out through the cracks in the wall,” he said.
Chatterjee further said the vibration and pressure generated on the walls due to ongoing construction activity might have resulted in more water flowing through the cracked walls towards the low lying areas. “Another reason could be usage of lake water for construction activities or supply to Maharajbagh,” he said.
Environmentalist Leena Buddhe, who is also director of Centre for Sustainable Development, said the lake is dying a slow death, thanks to the authorities “who turned a blind eye to the source of lake pollution”.
“The stormwater drain network coming from the Futala slum and the fertilizer runoff from orange cultivation is turning the lake eutrophic. There is no talk on remediation of the lake, it’s only the fountain and amphitheatre that is being talked about. It’s time the authorities wake up and revive the dying lakes in the city,” she said.
A MahaMetro official said that it has nothing to do with strengthening of the lake’s wall. “We have been entrusted with only construction of a road behind the gallery and a road from Telangkhedi T-point to Ravi Nagar Square and an amphitheatre,” said the official.