NGT makes committee to assess Powai lake pollution

Mumbai: The condition of Powai Lake in Mumbai has been worsening. Therefore, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to check out its situation. This decision was taken after a local resident, Rakesh Bakshi from Hiranandani Powai, mentioned in his letter about the negligence of the lake. The NGT in Delhi took the matter seriously and passed the case to its Pune bench.

The committee includes officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and the Maharashtra State Wetland Authority. They have been asked to go and visit the site and evaluate the situation. The team has to submit the report along with suggestions within a month.

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Bakshi stated that for years, residents and activists have raised concerns about the lake’s poor condition, but no real steps were taken. The lake gets over 18 million litres of sewage every day. Its surface is now covered with water hyacinth, plastic waste, and decaying plants, severely affecting biodiversity.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that it has removed about 18,000 metric tonnes of water hyacinth this year. Currently, BMC has been working on a sewage treatment plant to eliminate 8 million litres of wastewater. The rest will go to the new Bhandup plant; it is likely to be ready in a year.