Naini Lake is a natural freshwater lake, of tectonic origin, located amidst Nainital city of Uttarakhand. It is lunar-shaped and has an outlet at the south eastern end. Naini Lake is one of the four lakes in Kumaon hills, the three other being Sattal Lake, Bhimtal Lake and Naukuchiyatal Lake. Balia Nala is the main feeder-stream of the lake. Other than this, 26 major drains, including the three perennial ones, feed it.
Increasing population, unplanned growth of human settlements and tourists together appear to have taken a toll of the beautiful lake that gives the hill resort of Nainital its name. According to a recent study conducted by D K Pandey of the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute, the water quality of the Naini Lake has been steadily deteriorating. The lake water is highly polluted due to the addition of exogenous wastes due to increase in population. High siltation resulted in reduction of lake depth, the depth of lake have reduced from its original depth of 29 m in 1871 to only 13 m in 2007.
With an increasing amount of sewage, municipal and domestic wastes finding their way into the lake, the quantity of organic matter in its water has risen sharply. This has starved the lake of cleansing oxygen, pushing up the biological oxygen demand (BOD) -- by over 20 times over a 10-year period. From 15.5 parts per million (ppm) in 1981, the BOD shot up to 357.23 ppm in 1991. Similarly, the concentration of free carbon dioxide in the lake --- which depends on the population of aquatic organisms and the type of waste added to the water ecosystem --- has increased by 670 per cent over the same period.
In 1993, a petition was filed by Dr. Rawat, who is also a member of social action group called 'Nainital Bachao Samiti'. He approached the Supreme Court seeking its assistance to pass such orders and give such directions as would prevent further pollution of already suffocating Nainital.
The case (W.P. 694 of 1993) was filed to save the Nainital lakes and the Supreme Court gave the directions in 1995.
1993
Writ petition was filed by Ajay S. Rawat in the Supreme Court of India on conserving the Naini Lake.
1994
The Court appointed a Commissioner for local inspection and also to give report on various important points. A perusal of that report showed that that the lake has turned dark green with an oily surface and is now full of dirt, human faeces, horse dung, paper polythene bags and all sorts of other waste. Most of the sewer lines, which leak, ultimately disgorge the faecal matter into the lake through the drains, which open into it.
1995
Supreme Court passed directions for proper maintenance of the Ballia ravine, banning of construction of multi-storied group housing societies in Nainital Township, prevention of sewage and other pollutants from entering the lake. But still the authorities sanctioned few new projects.
2002
Roorkee-based NIH (National institute of hydrology) worked on the restoration of the Naini Lake in under a Rs 50 crore restoration programme sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Conservation and Management Plan evolved by NIH was lake centric but also proposes to tackle the immediate periphery of the lake which contributes an adverse impact on the lake.
2004
NIH worked on the means to free the lakebed from accumulated pollutants.
2006
Another petition filed by Rawat seeking a ban on building in eco-fragile areas, that is, the catchment area of the lake. The public also protested. As a result, a panel chaired by the state's chief conservator of forests directed that construction at Hanuman Garhi Park be stopped, which is at hillock. This construction would have destroyed Himalayan oaks, which store water and release it for springs that feed the lake. There were 250 springs before 1950 out of these, 30 remain by today. No action was taken to stop construction elsewhere.
2008
The authorities implemented scientifically designed waste management project in order to restore the lost grandeur of the Naini Lake. Bio-manipulation project is being implemented in the lake after the lake's ecosystem got cleaner. Under this project, 35,000 Mahashir fish have already been released into the lake.
In December, the residents switched to scientifically designed garbage disposal system. Under the project named Mission Butterfly, the sweepers collect waste from each and every household and then directly transfer it to the compost pits where it is converted to manure. Through this there can be control on that was falling in the lake. Students are taught in school regarding garbage disposal and lake conservation.
2009
The Supreme Court asked an environmentalist to approach the Uttarakhand High Court to stop large-scale illegal constructions and felling of trees in Nainital to preserve the beauty of the town and the main lake by strictly implementing an earlier order of the apex court. The apex court's order came after senior counsel Vivek Singh Attri, appearing for the petitioner, said multi-storeyed group housing societies and commercial complexes were coming up in the town with official connivance. Trees were also being cut in a big way in utter violation of the SC order and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It gave the order that “Multi-storeyed group housing and commercial complexes have to be banned in the town area of Nainital. Building of small residential houses on flat areas could, however, be permitted." The court had also asked the state to make illegal felling of trees a cognizable offence and restrict vehicular traffic on the Mall.
2009
In August, civic authorities in Naintal launched a fresh demolition drive of illegal buildings and structures, which were posing a threat to the environment and the lake.
2009
Several civil groups launched a cleanliness drive for Naini Lake.
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