In addition to conducting a survey of Nainital town, a survey should also be conducted for protecting and recharging the old sources of water in the area. These and other suggestions were made by scientists and subject experts in a meeting held by Kumaon Commissioner Chandrashekhar Bhatt, UNDP additional director Rakesh Kumar and others regarding the receding level of water in the Naini lake here.
In the meeting of the senior officials with members of the intelligentsia, scientists and subject experts, the Nainital District Magistrate Deependra Kumar Chaudhary said that suggestions received from experts and scientists for the conservation and rejuvenation of the Naini lake will also be included in the action plan so that the level of water in the lake can be increased.
Experts informed in the meeting that a study had been conducted in the past for the conservation of Naini lake. The recommendations made in this study should also be included in the action plan. Further, after removing the sediment from the Sukhatal area, a boundary wall should made around the catchment area so that the water collected there during the rainy season can recharge the Naini lake. It was also suggested that a complete survey of Nainital town should be undertaken along with a survey of old water sources for preserving and recharging them.
The experts also stated that latest technical aids should be used for conducting a scientific analysis to ascertain whether the water coming out of new sites near the Balia Nala is water leaking out of the Naini lake. It was also suggested that there should be a complete halt on construction in Nainital town in addition to which construction should also be stopped on the Sukhatal lake. The works being undertaken by the administration for conservation of the Naini lake should be executed in a scientific manner. Further, experts said that there should be a complete ban on construction in the Nainital green belt and that Nainital should be developed as an eco-sensitive zone, apart from which a water policy should also be drafted for the area. The UNDP additional director Rakesh Sharma assured full cooperation for the conservation and rejuvenation of the Naini lake. The suggestions of experts and scientists will also be taken from time to time on the subject, he added.
The Kumaon Commissioner Chandrashekhar Bhatt said that stringent action should be taken against those dumping garbage and debris in the nullahs draining into the Naini lake.
The District Magistrate stressed on the need for more focus on rainwater harvesting in the district. He said that this will be made mandatory in residential schools, hotels and other organisations and sizable buildings. He directed officials of the Jal Sansthan to conduct drives periodically for mitigating the misuse of water.