Lake not dredged in 50 yrs, high metallic sedimentation detected
2
Kolkata: A test report on the present quality of the 72-acre wide
Rabindra Sarobar
waterbody shows high toxic
metallic sedimentation
on the lake's bed.
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority
(KMDA) will be taking expert opinion on whether this could be one of the reasons for the frequent
fish deaths
in the waterbody.
Officials said that the
West Bengal Pollution Control Board
(WBPCB) earlier collected water samples from the lake to analyse its condition.
"According to the parameters, the overall quality of the waterbody is more or less satisfactory. However, on the basis of primary observation, there may be some toxic elements close to the waterbody bed as a high amount of metallic sedimentation has been found," said a KMDA official.
Officials said that high contents of zinc and magnesium were found in the sedimentation. "Expert opinion will be taken to determine whether this high metallic toxicity on the waterbody bed was one of the prime reasons for the frequent fish deaths or not. It is being explored as to what could be done to reduce this metallic content.
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The report will be placed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and steps will be taken accordingly," an official said. Last year, the authorities sprayed quicklime on the Sarobar waterbody to neutralise the toxic elements of the lake, following events of frequent fish deaths. However, the lake has not been dredged in over 50 years.
Environmentalist and lake regular Somendra Mohan Ghosh said that there was no dredging of the lake, which resulted in significant sedimentation on the lake's bed, reducing the lake's depth. "Hydro raking should be done at regular intervals to prevent the build-up of sediment and to maintain the lake's overall health," Ghosh said.
KMDA officials said currently, JU experts were conducting tests to determine the exact depth of the waterbody at different levels, as there is no accurate data available.
As a long-term course of action is being explored, officials said there is a requirement to increase the vegetation of the waterbody, which consists certain species of plants that help in increasing the lake's dissolved oxygen level and other parameters to improve its quality.
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