City lakes saved but drinking water sources polluted

Nagpur: Though the civic authorities managed to protect the city lakes by not permitting immersion of Ganesh idols this year, water bodies on the outskirts of the city bore the brunt of immersion of idols taller than four feet, mainly at Koradi lake and Kolara river.
While the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had cordoned off Futala, Gandhisagar, Sonegaon and Sakkardara lakes and had set-up around 390 artificial tanks in the ten zones of the city, it allowed Ganesh mandals to immerse big-sized idols outside the city.
Calling it a “mindless” decision, environmentalists slammed the local bodies for discriminating between natural water bodies. According to members of Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), a large number of idols were immersed in Koradi lake and Kolar river.
“After passing through Waregaon, the river reaches Beena where it confluences with Kanhan and Pench river, which are our main drinking water sources. Kolar is already polluted with regular fly-ash discharge due to which the water supply gets disrupted regularly. Now, idol immersions will only add to the pollution load,” said Leena Buddhe, founder of CFSD.
An artificial pond was provided at Koradi and as per NMC’s press release, about 573 idols were immersed in it. However, many immersions reportedly took place in the lake too. “The idols were being immersed on one side at the lake where water is completely stagnant as Mahagenco didn’t allow on the side where it has its pumping station. Often used for cultivation of lotus and chestnut, the lake is now polluted with the plaster of paris and other toxic chemicals,” said the on-ground staff of CFSD.
Members of Green Vigil Foundation, who were on duty at Futala lake to ensure eco-friendly immersions, stated that rivers and lakes are important natural resources, irrespective of their location. “We need to save them all and their ecosystem. The most effective solution is to construct more number of RCC artificial tanks, which have proved to a great success at Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes. Such tanks need not necessarily be next to any lake. This year’s initiative has been a great start for the city but it will be a real success when no idols will be immersed in any lakes or rivers,” said Kaustav Chatterjee, founder of the NGO.
To ensure protection of all water bodies, the ideal solution can be restricting the height of idols. “Bigger the idols, bigger the problem of immersions and pollution. There should be a strict capping on size of idols. Also, mandals should be encouraged to buy a permanent idol,” said environment activist Kunal Mourya.