Mumbai: Mumbai's famous Powai lake is set to get a rejuvenation as the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in association with NGOs will be holding a clean-up and conservation campaign of the lake on April 22. The campaign is organised marking the World Earth Day.
The Powai Lake clean-up campaign will mark the start of state-wide enviornment conservation and awareness campaign led by Pankaja Munde, the minister of Environment and Climate Change. The campaign will run from April 22 to May 1 (Maharashtra Day). The campaign will start at 6.30 am at Ganesh Ghat, Powai Lake near IIT Bombay.
However, environmentalists point that for the conservation of the water bodies, only cleaning is not enough but coordination within agencies for restoration, accessibility for tourists and development of promenade among others is important.
One of the NGOs participating in the Powai Lake clean-up and conservation campaign is Vanshakti. Environmentalist Stalin D, Director of Vanshakti said, "It is appreciated that the clean-up is organised, which is required, however, the lake has multiple issues which needs to be addressed. If any activity is to be carried, clearance of atleast three agencies, like BMC's hydraulic, solid waste management etc. Coordination within the agencies is difficult."
In an recent email written by Stalin to Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), had highlighted issues plaguing Powai lake sought help to conserve the water body. The issues Stalin highlighted were: Raw sewage entering the lake that has caused the organic content of the lake to increase, resulting in proliferation of Water Hyacinth that has taken over more than half of the lake`s surface area; need to increase the aesthetics and facilities like vehicles parking space to attract more citizens to the spot, lack of access to reach the promonade and keep up of the existing FOB, curtailing the anti-social elements like liquor consumption and enhanced security to guard the 2 km long promonade among others.
Notably, the Powai lake is home to crocodiles, which makes the lake a unique ecosystem. The presence of the crocodiles is a blessing for tourism as well as education.
