City ponds wallow in neglect, residents health at risk
A trader near Upper Bazar, Ajay Prasad, said, "Bada Talab, one of the city's largest and oldest water bodies, has become a dumping ground. It emits a strong stench and algae cover its surface, especially when it rains. People still use it for religious purposes, but no one maintains it."
Demanding swift intervention, Priya Lakra, a Lalpur resident who often visits Bada Talab, said, "The city is losing its lifelines as the water bodies are dying due to lack of regular desilting, waste removal, and upkeep."
The situation at Chadri Talab is no better. "The pond is choked with religious waste, plastic bags, and discarded offerings during Chhath Puja. The banks are slippery and overflowing due to clogged drains, and the water has turned murky, post rains. The carcass of a calf was dumped on the bank a few days ago. Pet owners dump carcasses here," area resident Sunil Munda said.
Bahubazar Talab, which lies beside a busy Main Road, has turned into a place for washing clothes, further polluting the murky waters. "This pond has become a dumping spot. The nearby eateries throw leftover food and waste into it. Nobody stops them, and the water stinks. It's a health hazard," said Ravi Mandal, who runs a paan shop in the neighbourhood.
Repeated calls and messages to RMC officials for a response went unanswered.
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