CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, April 3: Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) initiative to clean the city’s lakes by the end of March 2022 seems to be an incomplete task as most of the lakes in the city seem to be covered with a layer of algae bloom. The most prominent being the Vivekananda Sarovar, commonly known as the Bada Talab or Ranchi lake which is situated at the heart of the city.
Lagatar24.com tried to contact the officials of the RMC to get an update but there was no response from their end.
In February 2021, RMC had planned to set up a sewage treatment plant (STP) to curb the flow of unprocessed water into the lake but the condition of the lake still remains in a terrible state. The STP has not yet been set up.
Khushboo Kataruka, Advocate at Jharkhand High Court had earlier filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in person and requested the High Court to direct the RMC to clean the water and stop the discharge of sewage into the lake and set up a treatment plant.
“The toxic water affects the aquatic life present in the lake. The presence of flora and fauna attracts many migratory birds. Even some local people rely on the lake water including the underprivileged kids who swim in the lake. These were some of the issues we raised,” she said while speaking to Lagatar24.com
After her PIL, the Jharkhand High Court directed the RMC to remove the water hyacinth and clean the lake from solid waste matter. The direction was carried by RMC for a few months. Despite this, many parts of the lake are still covered with algae blooms.
The local residents who reside near the lake are also responsible for the current condition of the Bada Talab as they often dump their solid waste in the water body. The water in the lake is so polluted that it cannot be used for any human purpose.
In July 2021, Chief Minister Hemant Soren had laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs. 84 crore for beautification of Ranchi, which included the renovation of the Bada Talab.
Algae blooms occurring in lakes disrupt the natural balance and degrade water quality. Additionally, algae that grow rapidly and in excess end up suffocating other aquatic organisms.
In January 2019, the then Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das unveiled the 33 feet tall bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda along with renaming the lake from Ranchi Lake to Vivekananda Sarovar. He also made sure that the lake will get a makeover along with boating facilities at night but nothing such has happened yet.
