High level of pollution caused by unchecked disposal of sewage and other kind of waste including polythene and chemical compounds into the Shahpura lake in the State capital has transformed the lake into a sewage pond completely unsafe for aquatic life, an environment group has claimed.
Subhash C Pandey, Chairman of Global Earth Society for Environmental Energy and Development (GESEED) said in interaction with the media here on Tuesday that chemical analysis of water of Shahpura lake revealed that it is facing high level of pollution that is not only deteriorating the water quality of the lake but due to high level of leaching, the chemical pollutants can also harm the ground water quality of the adjacent areas.
The claims of GESEED are based on chemical analysis of water sample of the lake done by Environmental Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO) in the State capital.
“The analysis report of EPCO shows that the water of Shahpura lake is not fit for life in terms of alkalinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).
The pH level of its water is on average above 8 showing high alkalinity. Besides, the level of DO, BOD and COD are also abnormal. It indicates high level of organic as well as inorganic pollution in the water body. Besides, there is also high level of carcinogenic heavy metals in the water of Shahpura lake. There is high probability of these metals reaching into our food through fishing activities,” Pandey said.
“The fact is that Shahpura lake has become a reservoir of waste and sewage that is straightaway released into it without any treatment. It is ironical that the government promotes this sewage pond as lake to get funds from national and international agencies and also to extort money from the public by promoting it as a tourist spot,” he alleged, adding that Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Capital Project Administration (CPA) had beatified the area without taking any step for cleaning the water of Sahapura lake.
He further pointed out that the Oxidation Plant constructed by Public Engineering Department is totally dysfunctional due to neglect. Besides, the Garland Drain system constructed by Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) at the cost of Rs 1.25 crore is also another example of wastage of resources.
Pandey said that he would soon approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to protect the lake from further destruction.