Powai Lake neglect: NGT orders joint inspection, serves notices to state govt, BMC, SWA

Mumbai: The National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench in New Delhi ordered setting up a joint inspection, taking cognisance of a letter regarding the destruction of Mumbai's Powai Lake due to official neglect. It also issued notices to the Maharashtra Government, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra State Wetland Authority and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

The bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad noted that prima facie, the averments made by Dr. Rakesh Bakshi, a member of the DK Flag Foundation, raise substantial questions relating to environment.

Details from the letter

"80% of the lake's surface is engulfed by invasive water hyacinths, rapidly depleting oxygen levels and endangering aquatic life, including its famous crocodile population," Dr Bakshi wrote highlighting the grave state of the waterbody.

In the letter, Dr Bakshi also mentioned that "the untreated sewage enters the lake daily, turning the water toxic beyond permissible limits and killing its biodiversity, while festivals and human activities add to the lake’s distress, with large amounts of gypsum and other harmful materials polluting the water further."

The bench converted the letter into an original application before transferring it to the NGT’s Western Zonal Bench at Pune.

Residents and environmentalists come forward

This comes as a shot in the arm for the ongoing campaign by residents and environmental groups to save Powai Lake from degeneration. Concerningly, 18 million-litres-a-day of untreated sewer flows directly into the wetland.

BMC takes action

BMC has floated tenders for diverting the sewer and setting up treatment plants, NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar said, pointing out that the process must be speeded through a time-bound plan.

The lack of action by the authorities has led to the continued deterioration of the wetland even as the media reports have highlighted the lake's declining health, and civic bodies have been informed of the urgency, Dr Bakshi said in his letter, ‘Urgent Appeal to Save Powai Lake - A Dying Natural Heritage’.

Committee formed

The principal bench ordered the formation of a joint committee composed of officers from Central Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Maharashtra State Wetland Authority.

The committee was asked to conduct a meeting within two weeks, visit the lake site, look into the grievances of the applicant, associate the applicant and representative of the concerned project proponents, verify the factual position, and submit a report suggesting appropriate remedial action.

The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.

The Principal Bench issued its order on July 10 which was uploaded on July 18.

The joint inspection report should be filed within a month at the Western Zonal Bench which will list the application for hearing on September 16.