Revitalising Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar: KMDA proposes mechanical dredging to enhance lake's health
Times of India | 2 November 2024
Rabindra Sarobar KOLKATA: Officials from the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the custodian of Rabindra sarobar, feel that the depth of the lake waterbody needs to be increased to rejuvenate it and enhance the oxygen content. They believe mechanical dredging is the only way to achieve this.
The authority will conduct a study of the lake to map out the lake bed, assess the overall quality of the waterbody, and determine its toxicity level. They will gather data on the depth of the lake at various sections. This report will then be presented to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), along with expert opinions, to make a case for allowing mechanical dredging at the lake.
Currently, the use of any machinery that causes pollution is prohibited in the lake's water. Even speedboats, which were deployed to save rowers in an emergency, were disallowed, with the NGT insisting on the use of electric boats to prevent pollution.
KMDA officials mentioned that for several years, only manual dredging has been conducted on the sides of the lake. There has been no dredging in the middle portion of the waterbody, leading to the accumulation of silt deposits.
"There have been frequent incidents of fish deaths recently, and complaints that the lake waterbody has become toxic. At present, we do not have comprehensive data on the various parameters of the Sarobar waterbody, such as its exact depth at the centre, the level of toxicity, and its overall quality. Therefore, it has been planned to conduct different tests to evaluate the lake's profile. Water samples will be collected, and their toxicity levels will be assessed. Based on the test reports, the authorities will make a plea before the NGT to see if mechanical dredging could be allowed," explained a KMDA official.
In an effort to detoxify the lake, the authorities recently purified the entire 72-acre waterbody by spraying quicklime.
In recent times, KMDA has also evaluated other means to rejuvenate the lake, including setting up rolling drums and fountains to churn the lake's water to increase its oxygen content. However, these proposals have met with objections from rowing clubs, who argue that it will hinder the course. Rabindra Sarobar is the only rowing course in the state.