SAVE POWAI LAKE CAMPAIGN
IIT Bombay is inseparable from the Powai
Lake. A large bay of the Powai Lake is enclosed by the lush green campus –
from the Devi Temple to the old boat club (the remains of which are still
seen). In recent times, much filth and pollutants have diluted the purity
of the lake and disturbed the sanctity of the serene environment around
it. The lake is dying. The portion not silted up gets covered with weed
infestation. The water level is reduced to such an extent, that within a
few weeks of the end of the monsoon, much of the lakebed is exposed. And,
when the dry season begins, campusites play cricket and hututu on the
lakebed and go for walks on the lake, where once rowboats were seen.
Over the last several years concerned IITians have often initiated
activity to “to do something” to save the lake. The latest initiative
started in July 2000 when a small group of IIT Bombay residents and
students came together to take up the cause of the lake. Under the
leadership of Mrs. Rashmi Misra, the Save Powai Lake Team was formed, with
the primary purpose of saving the lake. At the same time a Spider & Web
Club was also formed, with a much larger objective, i.e. of ensuring an
environment friendly IIT Campus.
Some of the problems that have been identified concerning Powai Lake are
siltation, shallowness, pollution, reclamation, weed-infestation,
quarrying and blasting in the catchments area, industrial activities
within the catchment’s area, ecosystem degradation, encroachments along
the lake, vehicular pollution, loss of aesthetic and recreational value.
And the possible solutions provided emphasize that these problems be
addressed simultaneously and that they be tackled at their roots.
Initiatives Taken by the Team
Ever since its formation, the team has
worked towards creating awareness about the ‘dying‘ lake and initiate
action for its revival. Talks have been organized, as well as children’s
nature walks along the lake. Post card competitions were held for children
and the cards made were sent to the Environment Ministry in New Delhi as
well as to the concerned state-level officials. Apart from that, meetings
have been organized with the IIT student community. Student fests like
Mood Indigo and Techfest were used as platforms to spread the good word. A
significant activity was the formation of a HUMAN CHAIN around Powai Lake
on 26th January 2001, with the active participation of 8 schools involving
over 1000 children.
The Save Powai Lake Team is working closely with the local MP Mr. Kirit
Somaiya and MLA Sardar Tara Singh who had moved a petition in parliament
to release funds for revival of Powai Lake. With these efforts the
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF) has released Rs. 6.5 crores which
will be utilized for bio-remedial measures for water quality improvement.
The team has been in constant touch with BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation) officials to press for measures to prevent further pollution.
Towards this end the BMC has served notices to all residential societies
to connect up to the newly laid municipal sewer. It has also begun work to
divert all polluting open drains to the sewer.
World Environment Day: Desilting Programme
Following these initiatives to prevent further pollution of the lake, the team has now turned its focus to the large Bay of the Powai Lake, which is enclosed by IIT Campus i.e., from Devi Temple to the old Boat Club. Due to inflow of pollutants over the years, the lakebed of this bay area is silted up so that it holds very little water and dries up soon after the monsoon.
On World Environment Day, June 5th 2001, a programme to desilt this area was launched. With the assistance of Mr. Kirit Somaiya and IIT Bombay, dredging work began for desilting the Bay. In the first phase, before the monsoon sets in, an area of 3000 sq. meters was to be covered in front of the IIT Guest House.
It goes without saying that all this has been possible with the unstinted cooperation and support of IIT Bombay Director, Dy. Director and others.
Immediate future activities of the team include developing and implementing a viable plan for the desilting of the entire IIT Bay; continue liaison with BMC for pollution prevention; liaison with the BMC committee for implementation of the water quality improvement project sanctioned by MOEF; continue awareness activities among school children and Powai residents.
The dream is to have clean water of Powai Lake lapping the shores of IIT Campus through out the year. With the active participation of IIT Bombay, Campus residents and the extended IIT Family, this should be possible in the near future.
(For more information, contact: pro[!]cc.iitb.ac.in)