Governor expresses concern over depleting water level of Naini Lake

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 27

Governor Dr KK Paul today expressed concern over depleting water level in the Naini Lake. Speaking at a workshop on ‘Scientific and Technological Intervention to Save Naini Lake’, the governor said that alternative ways to meet the water needs of the residents should be devised to reduce their dependence on the lake. 

Dr Paul said that abstraction of water from the Naini Lake to meet the needs of local residents and tourists during the holiday season compounded the problem.

He said time had come for the local residents to shoulder the responsibility of preserving the lake.

“We need to adopt measures to minimise the usage of water from the lake by resorting to water harvesting. We must also ensure that residential sewerage does not pollute the lake,”he said 

Dr Paul also emphasised on the need to promote sustainable tourism and for developing a new tourist spot near Nainital to divert the tourist rush. 

Chief Minister TS Rawat also reiterated the state government’s commitment to preserve the water sources. “We have already launched programmes to revive the Rispana and Kosi rivers,” he said. 

There are two reasons that the experts believe are making the lake shrink: obstruction in the subsurface recharge and increased abstraction of water to quench Nainital’s thirst.

According to the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan a major portion of the water demand is met by water from the Naini Lake, Sukhatal lake and natural springs.