Posted on May 15, 2017
By Ramkrishan Upadhyay, The Tribune
As the receding water level of the Sukhna has once again become the cause for concern, experts have questioned the desilting of the lake.
Notably, the Administration has decided to start de-silting after the recommendation by a committee set up by the Administration. Experts are of the view that it would not help much as not much time had been left for the exercise before the monsoon, which is drawing near.
Dr SS Grewal, former scientist, Central Soil and Water Conservation Institute, said there was hardly any time left for it as pre-monsoon showers might lash city any time after the third week of June. “Secondly, the removal of silt is possible only from dry patches where the access to heavy machinery is always a problem because of slush, which cannot be removed,” he added. Grewal further said in all such previous efforts, no more than 5 per cent of the total silt was removed.
GS Dhillon, former Chief Engineer-cum-Director, Irrigation and Power Research Institute, Amritsar, said one of the reasons for the loss of water was desilting of the lake bed, which removed impervious soil. The water level has not increased despite rainfall in the past some years.
Some expert also questioned check dams. They said with a view to reduce silt in the lake, the Administration took the step of constructing 190 check dams upstream. The objective behind their construction was to impound the silted water and release the same after desilting. In actual practice, the de-silted water, instead of being released, is being stored in these check dams for an indefinite period. The capacity of the lake is being increased by de-silting and nothing is being done to get its share of water released from the catchment area.
UT calls for cleaning of catchment area
Acting on the advice of an expert panel, the Administration has requested the Punjab and Haryana governments to clean the catchment area of the Sukhna. Sources said the committee, headed by Anurag Agarwal, Home-cum-Finance Secretary, was of the view that encroachments as well as other hurdles in the catchment area had hampered the flow of water into the lake. The UT has requested Haryana to stop draining of sewage into the lake.
Water level continues to dip
While the Administration has started de-silting of Sukhna Lake as a short-term measure to revive it, the water level continues to dip. It was recorded at 1,153 ft on Thursday, which is almost a feet below the mark recorded last month. The water level stood at 1,153.80 ft on April 10. The situation is likely to worsen the next month due to a rise in mercury. This is for the first time in recent years when the water level is decreasing at an alarming rate in May.
Speaking out
“There is hardly any time left for desiltation as pre-monsoon showers are expected any time. The removal of silt is possible only from dry patches where the access to heavy machinery is a problem due to slush.” — Dr SS Grewal, former scientist
“It is not the right time for the authorities to start desilting. The authorities must explore other options. They should rope in experts before taking any decision in this regard.” — SS Virdi, former Chief Engineer
“One of the reasons for the loss of water is the desilting of the lake bed. The water level has not increased despite rainfall in the past some years.” — GS Dhillon, Director, Irrigation and Power Research Institute, Amritsar
“Instead of desilting, wet-dredging of the lake should be started. If the wet-dredging technology is adopted, the lake will survive for decades.” — Arjan Singh, secretary, Save Sukhna Forum
Source: The Tribune
