Toxic PoP waste lying around Powai lake for over two years
More than 60 tonnes of PoP (Plaster of Paris) 'harmful' waste has been lying along the circumference of Powai lake, and it has not been removed for more than two years, a city environmental group, Vanashakti, has pointed out.
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People associated with the group expressed the feeling that the authorities may have forgotten about the mounds of waste which is harming the water body besides polluting the water, This has been brought to the attention of the senior BMC officials for urgent action, said members of the environmental group.
The #SavePowaiLake citizens' movement has been gathering momentum and BMC has announced that it will set up a sewage treatment plant at the lake.
'At least three mounds of plaster of paris (PoP) remnants removed from the lake after idol immersion have been left along the lake boundaries for almost two years. Close to 60 or 80 tonnes of PoP idol waste is lying in the open inside the lake. Two monsoons have passed and the waste continues to remain uncleared by BMC. Almost 2 metres or more of the lake bed area near the steps is also saturated with PoP waste. This waste, along with chemicals and paints in it, will continue to leach into the lake and pollute the waterbody,' said activist D Stalin of Vanashakti.
A senior official from BMC said that, at present, they have deployed machines to cut through the water hyacinth weeds from the lake, and other cleanliness measures will also be taken up to improve the water quality of Powai lake. He added that the civic hydraulic engineering department has also been pressed into service for this purpose.
'It's been many years since local residents and green activists have been urging the municipality and the state authorities to clean up our Powai lake.
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Hopefully, this time around our citizens' movement should effectively help in saving the water body,' said Pamela Cheema of the SavePowaiLake movement.
Meanwhile, citizens and nature lovers have decided to form a human-chain on Jun 1, ahead of World Environment Day at Powai Lake, and are planning to get as many participants as possible for this green cause.
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