Ranchi: The capital's historical Bada Talab was found gasping for air on Monday, ironically the eve of World Environment Day, with conservationist blaming unabated pollution for its fragile health.
Local residents said the 52-acre lake, excavated at the base of Ranchi Hill in 1842 by a British agent named Colonel Onsley, was spewing dead fish for the past two days. A few hundred was seen floating up dead over the weekend.
"I was returning home after my morning walk around 8am when I saw a crowd of 35-40 people near the lake. When I went closer, I saw dead fish on the water surface," said Rakesh Sinha, a grocer and resident of Hindpiri.
Renu Kumar, also a Hindpiri resident, said local fishermen trooped to Bada Talab to net the easy catch. "Some people said the lake water had turned into poison. If that is true, the fish are bad for consumption, aren't they? One should be extra cautious while buying fish from markets near the lake," she said.
Ravindra Kumar Sinha - the vice chancellor of Nalanda Open University who is also a noted environmentalist honoured with the sobriquet 'Dolphin Man' for his determined effort to protect the Gangetic species - minced no words to say that Ranchi Lake was terribly polluted.
"One of the main reasons behind fish deaths is lack of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. The required DO level for fish to survive is 5ml per litre. I think the level in the lake has plunged to less than half. There are though some species that can survive low oxygen levels," said Sinha, who was in Ranchi on Sunday to take part in an ongoing environment fair-cum-conclave at Audrey House.
The environmentalist blamed unchecked streaming of municipal/organic waste into the water body for its perilous DO level. "Stop polluting the lake now. That is the only long-term solution. For starters, fresh water can be pumped in to balance the oxygen level," he added.
Ranchi University professor and conservationist Nitish Priyadarshi agreed. "Bada Talab needs immediate attention. Untreated sewage drains into the lake from Upper Bazaar. Fish have died here in the past too," he said.
Beautification work around the lake could also be hampering its health, Priyadarshi pointed out. "Cement waste is making its way into the water, although temporarily. The key is to ensure that after the tourist facilities are built around the lake, plastic or food leftover are not dumped into the waters by visitors."
Public relations officer Naresh Sinha of RMC, the guardian of Bada Talab, said he had asked health officer Kiran Kumari to probe the fish deaths and take corrective steps in association with the engineering division. "Drains are an issue here. We have taken cognisance of the matter. Action will be taken," he promised.
What can be done to check the release of waste into the lake? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
