When the whole nation has jumped on the super Swachh Bharat bandwagon, here's how Jamshedpur is going on reverse gear.

Beldih Lake, a landmark in the steel city, remains everyone's favourite car wash despite Jusco warning boards prohibiting the practice. Swamped with grimy auto-rickshaws to dusty hatchbacks and SUVs, the eastern end of the lake is dotted with provisional cleaning services, which callously allow dirty water to flow into the three-acre water body.

"Washing vehicles near Beldih Lake had stopped after Jusco had fenced off the area in November 2013 with three-feet-high inner iron railing in addition to the existing grille along the 5.5-feet-high outer boundary. But the cars made a comeback a few months ago and their numbers are swelling with each passing day. The dirty water is polluting the lake and will harm the fish and snails," an angler complained. He added that on many occasions, they had tried to make the car wash owners see reason, but in vain.

A resident of Dhatkidih, who also dabbles in angling at leisure, claimed these unauthorised agencies were patronised by several authorised garages. "They refuse to see reason and often threaten us. When we say we shall complain, they retort, ' Jaiye jisko bolna hai bol dijiye, zyada boliyega to machhli marna band karwa denge (Go and complain to whoever you want. If you nag us, we will ensure that angling stops at the lake)'," the resident said.

Environmentalist K.K. Sharma, who also teaches zoology at Jamshedpur Co-operative College, said the oil and grease flowing into the lake was detrimental to fish health. "Grease film on the water surface can disrupt oxygen supply while oil affects gill functioning in fish. They suffocate to death," he said.

Tata Steel subsidiary and Beldih Lake guardian Jusco had deputed a security guard on the premises in 2013, but the car wash owners seem to be too intimidating for him as well.

Jusco DGM (customer relations and corporate communication) A.P. Singh promised to look into the matter and, vif necessary, seek help from Bistupur police. "We had fenced off the lake area to keep vehicles at bay. A guard was also posted. We shall seek a report from him and approach Bistupur police station," Singh said.

Beldih Lake plays host to the Jamshedpur Angling Club, which was established in 1947 and whose members hook an array of fish from rohu and catla to mrigal and tilapia. The club has been organising an angling competition for several years to mark JRD Tata's birth anniversary on July 29.#