UDAIPUR, July 15 (TIWN): “Polluted water of Udaipur Jagannath Lake is all set to discharge into river Gomati”, says Divisional Executive Engineer Shishir Chiran to TIWN. Jagannath Lake’s water body purification was a project under PWD aimed to release the whole polluted water into River Gomati and to give a “new-life” to the lake.

The work started in the year 2013. Ratan Bhowmik (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation) brought out the plan to discharge the full watbody into river Gomati, and the work was given to Shishir Chiran, but while talking to TIWN on Monday Shishir Chiran said, “I completed my job, as soon as I get the permission from the Minister himself, I will release the polluted water into river Gomati.”

“I spoke to Minister Ratan Bhowmik in this regard, but he asked me not to release the water right now as sudden release of whole water body may create a crisis here among local people”, said Chiran. He further mentioned that many lives are dependent upon Jagannath Lake. From Fire Brigade to common people all depend upon this lake for daily needs, so we have to think before we start release the water.”

However, it’s to be mentioned that the water body has been damaged to such an extent that it’s no more usable. So to stock this water in the benevolence of people cannot be a good idea. Hence here ministers think a lot before performing any action, whether it will affect the percentage of vote or not. May be Bhowmik is thinking so.

If the fire brigade of that place wants, they have alternative ways to store water, if they take some toil for few days as there are 2 lakes nearby, along River Gomati itself. And every household has water-supplying system, by which the water scarcity would not be felt. And overall the water body got polluted due to misuse of this govt.’s lake, so if such excuses are shown by the government in people’s favour then there is no hope that after the purification of Jaganath lake’s water body, it will soon not again be dirty. 

“The structural work is completed, the gate fitting is also over, I can release the water when I will get the permission from high levels,” said Chiran.

The quality of water of the Jagannath Lake continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. The implementation of the plan has also discontinued the students who use to come to learn swimming. This situation may lead to various kinds of water borne diseases like malaria and others, the people may also strike with viruses.

The water should be discharged soon without further more waiting, because this project came with the tenure of 3 months working period, now it has crossed more than 1 year,  question arises, what the govt. is waiting for?