Thane, proudly claimed as the “city of lakes,” has more than 30 scenic lakes located within the bounds of the city and the district. It is surrounded by the Thane River, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and the Ulhas River. The city has numerous artificial lakes built during its early period primarily to supply drinking water. Unfortunately, many of these lakes have succumbed to various environmental challenges in recent years, including eutrophication, excessive weed growth, and siltation.

Naar Pond, located next to the Golden Quadrilateral, is hidden amidst Thane’s towering residential buildings. This pond was permeated with sewage inflow and garbage from the nearby residential area which led to the notorious spread of floating invasive weeds such as water hyacinth. Garbage dumping has polluted the water by introducing harmful pollutants into the pond. While the accumulation of silt over the years has also reduced its water storage capacity.

पृथ्वीवरील सर्वात मौल्यवान संसाधनांपैकी एक म्हणजे पाणी; त्याशिवाय, आम्ही सुंदर बागा वाढवू शकणार नाही किंवा जगू शकणार नाही. कोणत्याही जीवासाठी पाणी हा सर्वात महत्वाचा घटक आहे. E.F.I वर आमचा जलसंवर्धनावर विश्वास आहे आणि भारताचे जलसंचय पुनर्संचयित करण्याचे आमचे ध्येय आहे.

In an attempt to revive the Naar Pond, we at E.F.I have carried out a series of restoration activities such as:
– Hyacinth removal
– Garbage cleaning
– Dewatering
– Desilting
– Fencing

Owing to a lack of proper maintenance, the Naar Pond was taken over by water hyacinth (जलकुंभी), an invasive weed species that grew and spread rapidly, creating an imbalanced ecosystem. The dumping of garbage by nearby residents had further polluted the pond. E.F.I’s efforts to clean up the Naar Pond included the deweeding of 426 kgs of water hyacinth and removal of 483 kgs of garbage.

After that, the process of dewatering was carried out. This process involves the controlled removal of water and is undertaken for pond maintenance. A total amount of 38,52,800 liters of water was pumped out to remove the contaminated water. Dewatering also allowed for activities like cleaning sediment build-up and improving structural integrity.

To improve the pond’s water storage capacity, Desilting process was then undertaken. This involved removing excess accumulated sediment that had settled at the surface of the pond. In total, 1160 kgs of silt were successfully removed from the pond’s bed.

To ensure the pond’s long-term health and safety, Protective fencing for a length of 100 meters was installed around the periphery to prevent future dumping and encroachments.

E.F.I’s restoration efforts have yielded significant improvements for the Naar Pond, enhancing both its water quality and quantity. Notably, the average depth of the pond has increased from 1.4 meters to 1.8 meters. Recent rainfall in Thane has greatly contributed to the pond’s restoration, replenishing it with clear water. This increased water level has fostered a thriving aquatic ecosystem and restored a healthy ecological balance for Naar Pond.

Do check out E.F.I’s Environmentainment Channel for all that is #Lakest.

Volunteer for India & her Environment with E.F.I at a lake near your vicinity.