Residents of the capital city can hope for the revival of Ranchi Lake popularly known as Bada Talab after Ranchi district administration started measurement of the lake on the instructions of Ranchi Municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar.
The lake situated over 2100 feet above the sea level was constructed in 1842 by prisoners under supervision of British agent, Colonel Onsely to maintain groundwater level of Ranchi. It spreads over 52 acres of land.
Municipal Commissioner on Saturday directed Circle Officer of Ranchi (Sadar) for demarcation of actual area of this lake besides to identify encroachment on the lake area.
Accordingly, measurement has been started with land surveyors deployed to complete measurement.
State Urban Development department and Ranchi Municipal Corporation woke to the plight of this lake after Jharkhand High Court on Friday expressed concern over its pathetic condition.
On Friday the bench of Justices Dr. Ravi Ranjan and SN Prasad expressed displeasure over encroachment of the lake area and the lake dying a slow death due to pollution and waste disposal. The court had observed that it seems that no effort was ever taken to save this lake and instead any improvement situated kept deteriorating.
Court directed the government to submit an action taken report to preserve and protect sources of water besides directing RMC to immediately remove encroachment and clean the lake.
Secretary of urban development department and Ranchi municipal commissioner were present during the hearing conducted through video conferencing. During the hearing officials informed the court that the government is committed to protect water bodies from any kind of encroachment. Court was informed that the drive to clear encroachment of Kanke dam is already in progress and so far 97 people have been identified who have encroached this dam.