Alarmed at the receding water levels of the Naini lake, a freshwater body that caters to the drinking water needs of residents and visitors in Nainital, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today called for developing a definite strategy to save it.
The pressure on the famous eye-shaped lake, a showpiece attraction for tourists in the hill city, is immense. It is the only source of supply to Nainital, which derives its name from the lake.
Though the lake receives flows from surrounding catchment basin, comprising the hill slopes and springs of the embracing Kumaon Hills, the water level fell 18 feet below the normal this summer.
"We need to get into action mode for the conservation of Naini lake," Governor Paul said.
"A number of seminars have been held on the subject from time to time and experts have come up with a slew of suggestions. It is time a definite strategy was drawn up in light of those suggestions and implemented to save the lake," he said at a workshop organised at the Raj Bhavan here by the United Nations Development Programme.
The UNDP workshop discussed scientific and technological ways to conserve Naini lake.
Citing Dhansa, Badkal and Surajkund, once counted among Delhi's major lakes, Paul said it was the "collective responsibility of everyone" to ensure that Naini lake does not meet the same fate.
He said city residents could play an important role in conserving the lake. "Residents using their common sense can also make significant contributions to save Naini lake."
At the event, Chief Minister Rawat said seminars were not enough. "It was time to devise well-defined strategies to save dying lakes like Naini, and revive old rivers like Rispana and Bindal," he said, referring to the rivers of the state capital Dehradun.
"Target oriented, serious efforts need to be made in a time-bound manner to achieve the goal," Rawat said.
The Uttarakhand government runs a "Rispana se Rishiparna" mission to facilitate the revival of the Rispana river.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
