Mumbai: Powai lake not desilted for 11 years, RTI reveals

MUMBAI: Even as protests against BMC’s cycle track around Powai lake continue, information received under Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that no desilting has been carried out at the lake for 11 years.
According to information given to BJP MLA Ameet Satam by the BMC’s water works department under the RTI Act, which has data till December 2021, BMC removed floating material and water hyacinth from the surface between 2015-18, spending around Rs 6.5 crore on the contract. BMC has already spent around Rs 33.9 crore on beautification projects at the lake and its periphery.
“BMC is rushing to build a cycle track and walkway, but activists say under its guise a road is being built at Powai lake. Data shows that for so many years, Powai lake has been ignored by BMC and even basic desilting has not been carried out for over a decade. Due to lack of desilting, the water quality has deteriorated. This shows that the BMC is not interested in preserving Powai lake or its natural habitat but wants to spend money on the cycle track,” Satam said.
Last month, BMC said it will carry out an environmental assessment of the lake based on suggestions by an expert advisory committee set up to oversee construction of the lake cycle track and its beautification.
BMC officials said that an oversight committee of experts was constituted to oversee environmental aspects of the lake rejuvenation project and to enhance the biodiversity of the Powai lake. “An expert in the field of reptiles, such as crocodiles and aquatic animals, Kedar Bhide, a wildlife biologist and herpetologist, has also been appointed for guidance and recommendations to improve aquatic life in the lake, implementing measures to improve the natural environment of the lake and improving quality of lake water,” BMC said.
The Bombay high court had stayed construction of a proposed cycling and jogging track around the lake last year. The BMC said no environment clearance was taken for the cycle track project. It said the project does not qualify for environmental clearance by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
“Instead of spending crores of rupees on constructing a cycle track, the BMC must beautify natural areas of the lake and ensure it is preserved. The cycle track and walkway will turn the lake into a water body surrounded by concrete-like roads,” Satam said. The BMC pointed out that environmentally-sensitive zones are amenable to buildable development wherein board walks are permissible.