Process to rejuvenate Ranchi lake begins

Finally, the most ambitious project of cleaning and renovating Ranchi lake, located in the heart of the city, seem to have taken off. On the spot survey was conducted on Thursday following which, a detailed project report will be submitted to Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) depicting the possibilities regarding its design. A Mumbai based company -- Tandon Infra has been assigned to prepare the DPR.

“A DPR is being prepared by a Mumbai based company – Tandon Infra, which has to submit its report within three months pointing out the possibilities what could be done to make it more attractive so that more and more people will visit the place,” said Ranchi Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Suresh Paswan. The focus will be to make the lake more beautiful by increasing the green carpet around it, added Paswan.

Following directions by the State Government, RMC officials have started expediting the beautification work. A survey of the lake was started on Thursday, making point to point measurement of land around it. Although, the officials declined to disclose any details about the plan, sources revealed that putting more and more green carpet around the lake was being planned by the RMC.

“First of all de-siltation of the lake will be done following the removal of weeds in and around the lake. There will also have a provision of a separate space for immersion of idols of Hindu deities during the festive seasons,” said an official requesting anonymity.Presently the survey was being conducted by Global Project and Engineering Consultancy on behalf of Tondon Infra. “According to the plan, we have been told to take 100 meters from the bank of the lake but it is not possible as a lot of construction work has already been done around the lake,” he said. The company, after doing a point to point survey of the area, will prepare a DPR and submit it to the RMC for approval, he said.

Ranchi lake, popularly known as Bada Talab, earlier happened to be a popular tourist spot in the town. But now, the giant lake has receded behind human settlements. Plastic bags carrying household wastes and left-overs from Puja offerings are dumped on the lake almost every day. The biggest water body of the city is also a home to water hyacinth that starves the water of oxygen and ends up killing the fish.But the biggest polluting factor is the domestic sewage dumped every day. Ranchi lake, located in the heart of the city, was excavated by Colonel Onsley, a British agent in the year 1842. Spread over an area of 52 acres, earlier people used to drink water from this lake several years ago, but today the lake has become so contaminated that it has become a home for several contagious diseases like diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.