This article throws light upon the eight important lakes which have been polluted. The lakes are: 1. Naini Lake 2. Ambazari Lake 3. Pushkar Lake 4. Naraina Lake 5. Dal Lake 6. Asia’s Largest Fresh Water Lake 7. Victoria, the World’s Second Largest Fresh Water Lake 8. Yediyur Lake in Bangalore.
Lake # 1. Naini Lake:
According to a recent study, the water quality of Naini Lake has been steadily deteriorating and is not fit even for consumption by cattle. The water of the Naini Lake is highly polluted because of the addition of exogenous wastes as a result of more than 37% increase in human population in the catchment area of the lake and too many tourists, especially in autumn months, during the last decade.
Lake # 2. Ambazari Lake:
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Ambazari Lake of Nagpur has been deteriorating because of neglect of civil authorities, town planners and the general public. Once the only source of water for the capital town of Central Provinces and Berar and later old Madhya Pradesh, the lake is now not used as a drinking water source because the water is unfit for drinking purposes.
Lake # 3. Pushkar Lake:
Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is to be saved from siltation due to shifting desert sand. In a study of water quality in rivers and lakes, the Rajasthan State Pollution Board rated Pushkar Lake as the worst polluted water reservoir. The water body has already silted up to a depth of seven metres.
Lake # 4. Naraina Lake:
The historic Deshalser Talao in Bhuj, in the desert area of Kutch, Gujrat, is on the road of destruction. Garbage and sewage have been diverted to this lake, which has capacity of 3 crore, gallon. A lot of the garbage that is dumped in the Naraina Lake is toxic. A major portion of this comes from pharmaceutical companies situated in and around Naraina.
Lake # 5. Dal Lake:
Srinagar’s Dal Lake, a principal attraction for tourists in Jammu and Kashmir is getting chocked by the spread of aquatic plants and algae in it. Its area has shrunk from 33 sq. km to less than 10 sq. km. in 50 years. Recently in June 28, 1992, Environment experts in Srinagar reported that future of Dal Lake is bleak and it would soon turn into a marsh.
They predicted that the lake which has been a source of inspiration for tourists and artists since 250 B.C., would be extinct within the next 40 years, if measures to save it were not taken on a war footing comes from pharmaceutical companies situated in and around Naraina.
Lake # 6. Asia’s Largest Fresh Water Lake:
Asia’s largest fresh water lake Manchar is heading towards doom. Salinity levels in the lake situated in Pakistan’s Dadu district have risen dangerously because of continuous drainage of saline water into the lake.
Lake # 7. Victoria, the World’s Second Largest Fresh Water Lake:
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Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water lake is also threatened by uncontrolled flow of pollutants into its water. The lake spreads across Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The pollutants could lead to the collapse of the lake’s multi-billion fish industry. Release of raw sewage into the lake by various local authorities has increased the level of toxic substances in the lake, thus endangering fish.
Most local authorities and small beach settlements around the lake lack sewage treatment facilities; hence pollutants find their way into the water. Poor agricultural practices in surrounding highland areas have also been blamed for the release of chemical sediments from fertilizers, a pesticides and herbicides.
Lake # 8. Yediyur Lake in Bangalore:
It is now a cesspool clogged with domestic and industrial and industrial sewage. The lake waters have become greenish black and are loaded with high chloride levels. According to a study conducted by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, domestic and industrial effluents have also contaminated the water and its total dissolved solids range from 208 to 428 mg/L.