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Jakhar takes stock of pollution of Bhopal lakes

Staff Correspondent

Upper Lake, a source of drinking water in Bhopal, is getting choked

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Governor, Balram Jakhar, on Tuesday expressed concern at the hyacinth menace and increasing pollution of lakes here in the State Capital. He also asked the officials concerned to prepare detailed proposals to combat the situation.

The Governor called a meeting of officials at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday to take stock of the situation and keep himself informed about the steps being taken to control the pollution of lakes, especially the Upper Lake, which is a source of drinking water in the Capital.

At present the Upper Lake is getting choked with floating and submerged weed masses, such as floating hyacinth, lilies, weed and grasses.

Dr. Jakhar said efforts should be made to permanently destroy hyacinth. "Protection of lakes should be a priority because wetlands and water bodies are essential for the survival of humankind, wildlife as well as for the protection of environment," he said, adding that the Government should earmark adequate funds for this purpose.

The State Principal Secretary (Housing and Environment) Devraj Birdi informed that a proposal for a Rs. 256 crore project to combat pollution and protect the Upper Lake in Bhopal from the problem of encroachment had been sent to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. This bank had earlier funded a major project to protect the Upper Lake from pollution, he added.

An ambitious project involving integrated conservation and management of the Upper and Lower lakes of Bhopal, called Bhoj Wetland, that was threatened by anthropogenic activities has already been executed by the State Housing and Environment Department with financial assistance from the Government of Japan through JBIC. The meeting was attended, among others, by Bhopal Mayor Sunil Sood, State Pollution Control Board Chairman S.P. Gautam, and the Bhopal Collector, S.K. Mishra.

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Jakhar takes stock of pollution of Bhopal lakes

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