NEW DELHI: The foul smell hits the senses well before hundreds of dead fish are seen. At Sanjay Jheel in Mayur Vihar, deep cracks have appeared where the lake was supposed to be, replaced by scattered, shallow puddles. Birds pick at piles of dead fish.
The revival of the 54-acre waterbody was undertaken in 2021 by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and completed by 2024. Treated water from the Kondli sewage treatment plant was being supplied by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to rejuvenate the lake.
Several days ago, however, the pipeline supplying water developed a leak, leaving the lake dry. The location of the leak, however, could not be identified for several days.
On Thursday, DJB said the source of the leak has finally been identified. “The work to repair the leakage was initiated, however, the exact leakage point could not be traced. The repair work will now be taken up on a war footing and is expected to be completed within two days,” a DJB official said.
DDA officials, meanwhile, said that it had redeveloped the area, laid the pipeline and also diverted water from a nearby flood-prone road stretch to the lake and the surrounding area, which is a notified protected forest.
“Maintenance of the treated water pipeline system falls under the jurisdiction of the water supplying agency. The DDA has been continuously pursuing the matter with them,” a DDA official said.
Anindya Chattopadhyay is the photo editor with The Times of India...
Read MoreAnindya Chattopadhyay is the photo editor with The Times of India, Delhi. He began his career in 2002 in Kolkata, following his graduation with a diploma in photography from Jadavpur University. Anindya has gathered a varied work experience, working both as a freelancer and employed with various newspapers, before joining TOI. He has covered everything from natural disasters, elections, jailbreaks, killings and massacres, sports, technology, hunger and even humour.
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