Mumbai citizens, greens plan action
Though the BMC has lifted some 10,000 tonnes of hyacinth from the lake, we have miles to go before the lake is cleaned up, say activists
MUMBAI,June 5: Focusing on the need to implement permanent solutions to the sewer-filled 6.6 sq km Powai Lake, local citizens and environmentalists will form a silent human chain on Sunday, June 8.
The human chain will be formed at the selfie point at the lake at 5PM, said Pamela Cheema, chairperson of Advance Locality Management (ALM) group that was formed by Brihanmumbai Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to attend to local civic issues.
“The pollution of Powai lake has been the cause of a major concern for several years,” Cheema said and explained that the ALM is mobilizing a cross session for the cause. She is confident that a large number of people will join the human chain.
Environment watchdog NatConnect Foundation said the BMC has itself admitted that as much as 18 MLD of sewer is drained into the lake. The only solution to preserve the lake is to divert the sewer flow and set up a treatment plant, BMC said in a statement after NatConnect and ALM complained to the Chief Minister and BMC Commissioner.
BMC has now launched a belated action plan, NatConnect director B N Kumar said and speedy implementation of the project. With the BMC elections round the corner, the people will continue to highlight the issue.
Everyone can see the anti-environment massive hyacinth plant covering the entire lake that has impacted the biodiversity, said Milan Bhat, a local resident who initiated a social media campaign to mobilise the youth.
“We are happy the young and old are helping us to spread awareness about the need to preserve our wetlands, " Cheema said.
Kumar and Cheema, who initiated an online petition for the case, said the organisers are happy that even the guests at a five-star hotel have taken notice of the campaign and posted pictures and videos of the hyacinth floating on the lake.
Though the BMC has lifted some 10,000 tonnes of hyacinth from the lake, “we have miles to go before the lake is cleaned up,” the activist said.
As long as sewer enters the lake the hyacinth menace will continue, Kumar said and appealed to the BMC to handle the situation on a war footing.
