The Kejriwal government is working on a war footing to turn Delhi into a ‘City of Lakes’. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the lakes of Delhi are being revived and converted into attractive tourist destinations. In this series, following the instructions of the Chief Minister, Water Minister and Delhi Jal Board Chairman Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj inspected the Najafgarh STP lake on Saturday. On this occasion, the Water Minister directed the officials to convert the artificial lake as per expectations and complete the quality work in time. He also asked officials to prepare a project to maintain the ecological system and recharge maximum underground water with cost-effective methods.
Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj gave suggestions to DJB officials on various aspects during his inspection of Najafgarh STP lake, which is part of the lakes rejuvenation project being run by the Delhi government. He added that the Najafgarh STP lake being built by the Kejriwal government in Dwarka area is spread over about 4 acres. He shared that the construction work of Najafgarh STP lake is in progress and after its completion the clean water from the STP present in the campus will be released into this lake. On behalf of the Kejriwal government, the Najafgarh lake is being prepared as the fourth lake in the Dwarka area. Its formation will help in recharging the ground water by storing water and will also be beneficial in water treatment.
It should be noted that at present the water of Pappankalan Phase-II is being pumped through a 4 km long pipeline in the Najafgarh STP lake. This is according to the parameters of BOD 10, TASS 10 and NGT. Here the filling of water in the lake commenced one and a half months ago and in just 45 days, a rise of 3.24 meters has been observed in the ground water level of the lake.
Najafgarh STP lake will be filled with clean water throughout the year. Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj said that all the works for the construction of Najafgarh STP lake have been done according to the environment. The construction and rejuvenation of the lake will not only increase the ground water level, but also create an ecosystem in the area. The purpose behind creating the artificial lake is to recharge the ground-water and to meet the water scarcity in the surrounding areas. To increase the groundwater level, piezometers will be installed in the lake, which give information about the water level. It will also be ensured that this lake is filled with clean water throughout the year. The landscaping work around the lake will be completed in a few months.
The Water Minister said that people will be able to enjoy natural beauty around the Najafgarh STP lake. There will also be a walking track for people to stroll here. There will additionally be facilities for birdwatching spots and other recreational activities. Tubewells will soon be installed along the banks of the lake, which will help in augmenting the water supply in different areas of Dwarka. The lake will also act as a sink for carbon storage. It will be home to many species of plants, birds and animals. Besides bridging the gap between demand and supply of water for the growing population of the metropolis, it will also help in bringing down the temperature during the peak of summer. The climate around the lake will also be clean and greenery will also increase.
He said that it is very important to make water bodies alive to save raindrops. For this also, the Delhi government is continuously working under the leadership of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Indigenous plants are being planted around the lakes to revive the eco system.
