New Delhi/Chandigarh, March 20
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari has forcefully raised the issue of restoring the true heritage of Chandigarh – Sukhna Lake. Speaking under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, he drew the House’s attention to the alarming shrinkage of the lake, caused by factors including illegal encroachment in its catchment area.
Taking up the issue, Tewari said, “I wish to raise the matter of urgent public importance regarding the alarming degradation of Sukhna Lake. At the time of its creation, Sukhna Lake had a substantial water-spread area and depth and was designed to function as a major rainwater reservoir, aiding groundwater recharge, flood control and ecological balance of the region.” He added that over the years, however, the size, depth and water-holding capacity of the lake have reduced drastically due to unchecked siltation.
Tewari argued that despite repeated warnings by experts, proper and scientific desilting of the lake has not been undertaken in a sustained manner. “No serious desilting has taken place since the late 1980s when the then Governor Late Siddarth Shankar Ray had led an aggressive Shramdan with people and especially school students’ participation, to de-silt the lake over the decades. As a result, large portions of the lake have become shallow and prone to drying”, he said.
Tewari further said, “Simultaneously, illegal construction and encroachments in the catchment area of the lake have increased significantly, obstructing natural drainage channels and accelerating silt inflow into the lake. Even the Supreme Court has also expressed serious concern regarding the deteriorating condition and shrinking water levels of Sukhna Lake.”
Tewari recalled that when he sailed in Sukhna Lake even in the late 1970s as a school student, certain parts of the Lake towards the Lake Club had barely three feet of water. “The problem is endemic, stretching back over five decades now. In this context, I therefore urged the government of India through the Rule 377 to take urgent, coordinated and time-bound action to remove illegal constructions, restore and secure the catchment area, carry out comprehensive desilting and implement long-term ecological restoration measures to protect this critical urban water body”, the MP demanded.
