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Cannot desilt Powai Lake, admits BMC

In an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court recently, the civic body admitted that the work for desilting as per previous commitment given to the court was to commence from April 2017, but it has still not begun.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that it is unable to carry out desilting at Powai lake, due to lack of important resources, such as space for dewatering and storage of dredged material.

In an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court recently, the civic body admitted that the work for desilting as per previous commitment given to the court was to commence from April 2017, but it has still not begun. One of the reasons the affidavit cites is that if desilting is undertaken there will be disturbance to aquatic life there by reducing rich nutrients and sediments within the lake.

It also specifies that as suggested by an expert committee, if desilting is undertaken through the single cutter suction dredger, it will take about 12 and half years to complete the work.

The affidavit was filed while hearing a public interest litigation filed by social activist Joshi Shiv Shankar. He has argued that the lake has now turned into a large gutter where all the waste material is being dumped. Moreover, the residents use it to dispose their own garbage. The lake which once enhanced the beauty of the city has been now reduced to a displeasing site.

The corporation added that for stacking/disposal of the entire desilted material substantial space is required. For desilting the entire lake, an area of 2.90 sqm is required. While for desilting the lake edge 1.44 sqm. A large offsite location for disposal of dredged material as well as a major earth moving dump truck for several years will be required.

In an earlier affidavit filed by the civic body, giving out a master plan for rejuvenation of the Powai lake, it had said that it will appoint Frishcman Prabhu (India) Private Limited, which will work out options to address issues like stopping ingress of sewage water, suitable treatment options and also beautification of Powai Lake.

Among the various steps which the civic body plans to undertake, is remove hyacinth, and other unwanted water plants, development of islands and surrounding areas by using silts, removed from the lake during dredging, without disturbing the aquatic life and forest area.

In order to help citizens enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake the corporation has plans to provide public parking facilities, sanitation facilities, installing CCTV, putting up LED street lights around the promenade and wherever possible provide landscaped pathways for citizens to enjoy walks around the periphery of the lake. Also, a children's recreational centre will be developed. The measures to revive the lake will be carried up to February 2019.

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