Spilled oil pumped out of Sukhna Lake

After an oil spill was reported from Sukhna Lake, a team of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) on Friday pumped out the oil from the affected area and ordered strict monitoring to prevent any recurrence.

The incident raised environmental concerns as the lake and its surrounding areas are notified wetlands and currently host migratory birds.

Saurabh Kumar, Member Secretary, CPCC, said a thin film of spilled oil was detected in a very small part of the lake on Thursday evening, following which teams were rushed to the spot. The oil-contaminated water was removed this morning, he said.

In view of the ecological sensitivity of the lake, the Forest and Wildlife Department convened a meeting with all concerned departments on Friday. Officers from the Tourism Department, Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation, Engineering Department and the Police Department attended the meeting. Emphasis was laid on enhancing vigil in and around the lake to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

Officials pointed out that the lake was an important habitat for both migratory and resident birds during this season and supported diverse aquatic life. Any contamination of the water body could pose a serious threat to birds, fish and other organisms, apart from impacting the water quality.

The CPCC has collected samples of both oil and water from the lake to ascertain the exact cause of the spill. Preliminary observations suggest that the oil may have leaked into the water from a boat or a similar vessel that was present in the lake. All boats in the lake would now be checked and allowed to operate after thorough examination.

Saurabh Kumar said a team from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also reached the spot to assess the impact of the spill. He said a fresh guidelines would be issued and areas would be defined for operation of boats on the basis of the WWF report.

To strengthen long-term protection of the lake, the Chandigarh Wetland Authority has prepared a comprehensive Sukhna Management Plan, which is proposed to be implemented in phases over the next five years at an estimated cost of around Rs 24 crore. The plan includes provisions for enhanced monitoring, conservation works in and around the lake and improved infrastructure to protect the wetland ecosystem. The UT Administration has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment seeking approval and funding for the project.