Black sewage flows into Kolhapur’s Rankala Lake and water hyacinth spreads, exposing the limits of crores spent on beautification and conservation.
Officials said a Rs 12-crore grant under AMRUT 2.0 has been approved for lake purification and revival. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolhapur | Silver Rate in Kolhapur | Bank Holidays in Kolhapur | Public Holidays in Kolhapur Stay updated with the latest Kolhapur news.
At Partala, dark sewage can still be seen mixing with lake water, they said. Crores of rupees have been spent since then, but the pollution problem has not gone away,” said social activist Dilip Desai, president of Prajasattak Samajik Sewa Sanstha. He said the civic body has yet to permanently stop sewage inflows despite longstanding awareness of the pollution sources. Unless those inflows are stopped, Rankala cannot be revived,” he said. The weed should be removed immediately,” Desai said. Another activist, Amar Jadhav of Prahar Foundation, said the focus should remain on tackling pollution at its source. Only after that should other purification methods be considered,” he said. Along with sewage control and sludge management, it can significantly improve the lake’s condition,” a KMC official said.
Black sewage flows into Kolhapur’s Rankala Lake and water hyacinth spreads, exposing the limits of crores spent on beautification and conservation. Kolhapur : The lakefront might look brighter, but Rankala Lake’s biggest problem remains unchanged: sewage continues to flow into its waters. Even as crores of rupees are spent on beautification and conservation, black sewage from drains and fresh growth of water hyacinth are once again raising questions about the health of one of Kolhapur’s most iconic landmarks. Social activists have alleged that untreated sewage from multiple points, including the Sham Society nullah, Partala drain and a drain near Deshmukh Hall, continues to enter the lake despite years of promises and court interventions. activists claim maintenance has been poor since the monsoon ended Although diversion works were undertaken. “The lake was cleaned only after public outrage and agitations a few years ago. Desai recently submitted a representation to the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), urging immediate action. “Even after court orders and repeated complaints, concrete action is missing. Everyone knows where the sewage is entering the lake from. Activists argue that the latest signs of stress are already visible. Water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed often associated with nutrient-rich polluted water, has begun spreading along the lake’s northwestern edge. “It is unfortunate that while crores are being spent on beautification, water hyacinth continues to grow in the lake. “Rankala is the pride of Kolhapur. First stop the sewage from entering the lake. The criticism comes even as KMC prepares fresh restoration measures. The civic body plans to use Cownomics technology, an organic treatment process aimed at reducing foul odour, decomposing organic waste and algae, and improving oxygen levels in the water. “This process will reduce bad smell, break down organic waste and increase dissolved oxygen. Download the TOI App.