The Bindusagar lake in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 29: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to purify the water of the historic Bindusagar lake through bio-remediation process.

Earlier, a Mumbai-based organisation was given the tender to clean the water of the lake through artificial aeration, but it could not do the work according to the requirement. The organisation even failed to follow the maintenance needs, resulting in cancellation of the contract. The municipal corporation has now gone for a re-tendering process and the work is expected to start soon.

Engineer T.B.K. Shroff said: “We had started the re-tendering process long ago. But, we had to wait for some time as the election commission’s model code of conduct was put in effect during the panchayat polls. It is under consideration and things will be finalised after getting a nod from the municipal council. After that, the project will go for administrative approval of the state government.’’

Another engineer of the corporation said: “The lake’s water will be purified following the bio-remediation process as it will provide more oxygen to the water and thus decompose the biological waste faster. This will also help the aquatic animals lead a healthy life.’’

The state government is also trying to link perennial streams with the water body to ensure that Bindusagar gets proper supply of inlet channels. In the past, there were 10 usable ghats around Bindusagar. But with lack of care and renovation, most of these ghats have become defunct and people were not able to use them.

A team of BMC officials and engineers have also visited sites around Bindusagar and analysed streams such as Dimbiri Jhara and Ganga Jamuna for their potential to water Bindusagar. Both are positioned within 1km of the eastern bank of the lake.

Well-known conservationist and head of art conservation (research and training), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay Museum Art Conservation Centre, Mumbai, Anupam Sah is the chief consultant of Bindusagar beautification project, which will take up all the matters including the revival of the streams and beautification of all the four sides of the water body.

Yesterday, the chief secretary asked the housing and urban development department to ensure better monitoring of water quality of the lake. He also asked the authorities to ensure that untreated or partially treated wastewater is channelised through proper outlet and does not pollute the water body.

Project engineer of the Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board B.K. Parida said: “Unless the sewerage treatment plants are functional, the sewer lines cannot start operating in the city. Though areas near Bindusagar are linked to the underground sewerage pipeline, they cannot take the load now.” However, he added that the old sewerage lines maintained by the public health engineering department had ensured that wastewater did not enter the lake.