Residential Training on Rejuvenating our Lakes cseindia.org
Waterbodies – rivers, lakes, tanks, ponds etc. – have always been an inalienable part of many of our cities. A critical component of the human ecosystem, they have not only been a source of drinking water, but have also acted as sponges to recharge groundwater, supported biodiversity, provided livelihoods and performed the role of carbon sinks. Increasing, uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization is driving many of these waterbodies towards extinction. Their watersheds and catchment areas are being destroyed and encroached upon; they are getting clogged with mountains of sewage and solid waste; their natural flow of water is obstructed leading to floods and water-logging. Most waterbody rejuvenation programmes focus only on beautification – without exploring long-term solutions for reviving the waterbodies.