Mumbai News: Minister Ashish Shelar Directs BMC To Submit 3-Month Action Plan For Desilting Powai, Tulsi And Vihar Lakes

Mumbai: The BMC will submit a comprehensive action plan within three months on desilting of Powai, Tulsi and Vihar Lake, following Mumbai Suburban Gaurdian minister Ashish Shelar directives.

On Wednesday, a meeting on the desilting of Powai Lake was held today at Mantralaya under the chairmanship of minister Shelar, where BMC's Additional Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, Conservator of Forests from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Anita Patil and senior officials were present.

Powai Lake typically overflows by July each year, but this year it began overflowing as early as June — sparking serious concerns about whether the absence of timely desilting is to blame. It was also highlighted that NGO MERI has conducted a detailed survey on pollution levels in the lake.

Speaking with the FPJ, Bangar said, "As per the minister's directives we have started working on. Two tenders were floated for stopping sewage emission in Powai lake, and work order for one is given. However, more than desilting, the mammoth task is of transportation and disposal of silt. We have to also ensure the aquatic life and plants in the lake are not harmed."

The BMC recently came to a conclusion that for the cleaning and preservation of Powai lake, the only long-term solution is stopping the direct emission of sewage in the lake water, which has affected it's biodiversity.

Currently, 18 MLD untreated sewage is directly discharged in the lake. The BMC initiated to tenders- one for diversion of sewage lines and another for setting up a sewage treatment plant (STP).

Regarding cleaning of Tulsi lake, Bangar said that on Wednesday talks were held with SGNP officials and they said the plot for disposing the silt from the lake will be given nearby. Soon, a concrete plan will be worked out.

Spread across nearly 557 acres, Powai Lake is facing a surge in water hyacinth growth due to the discharge of untreated sewage from surrounding areas. While the BMC has begun measures to curb this pollution, minister Shelar emphasized the need for a detailed study on the transportation and storage of silt following the desilting of Powai, Tulsi and Vihar lakes.

He has also directed that a well-defined action plan be prepared and encouraged the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to support and accelerate the desilting work.