THANE: The civic Pollution Control Department (PCD) is highly insensitive to the pollution of some major city lakes despite concerns from the corporators on the subject from time to time. The ignorant attitude of the department has undermined the restoration of the lakes undertaken by the civic body a couple of years ago.
As per information, Upvan Lake at the foot of the Yeoor Hills is virtually dying because of pollution. The lake was amongst the thirteen dying lakes that had been restored by the TMC with the financial assistance from the union Ministry of Environment and Forest
(MOEF) more than two years ago.
The TMC had spent more than Rs 2.3 crore on the restoration of the thirteen lakes at that time. The corporation had resorted to the use of bioremediation technique to clear the lake of silt and marine plants that had lowered the level of oxygen in the lake waters. The presence of silt and marine plants resulted in the loss of marine life.
The restored lakes are to be kept free of pollution to keep them alive. Bhaiyasaheb Indise, the previous chairman of the civic Standing Committee (SC) informed Thane Plus that the beautiful Upvan lake has become a nallah for collection of liquid waste for some of the building colonies in the vicinity. "The Cosmos Hills residential complex is releasing its filthy waters into the lake for the last one year," he said.
Indise further informed that the lake had a religious significance as well. Hundreds of idols of small size were being immersed into the lake waters every year during the festive season of Ganapati and Navratri. The corporation had to remove the idols from the lake water and immerse them into the creek later on to save the lake from dying.
"I had ordered the pollution control department to take action against the building complex for polluting the lake with the release of sewer waters. My orders were not complied with and the Cosmos Hills complex continues to release its waste waters into the lake as before," the former SC chairman complained. He alleged complete inaction by the PCD.
Kavita Patil, a corporator from Nalpada -Subhash Nagar ward of Ghodbunder Road also claimed that some residential colonies in her ward were releasing their sewer waters into the Turfe Pada Lake in the area. The lake has not been restored in the past but the civic administration has drawn up plans to restore it in the coming months.
"The lake has become a drain and Commissioner Nandkumar Jantre had himself seen the sewer pipes releasing liquid waste into the lake", she said. The corporator further alleged that she had been complaining of the pollution to the pollution control department but to n o avail.
Manisha Pradhan, the office in charge of the department seemed completely ignorant of the situation. The official admitted to the orders of the former SC chairman last year but said that she took a round of the Upvan Lake at that time and called upon the civic Public Works Department (PWD) to take action. Pradhan admitted that her department was empowered to take action against the offenders for the lake pollution under the Pollution Control Act, but she wanted the town planning department and the civic public works department to act before her department did.
courtesy:www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
