Sikkim Attempts Revival of Dried Lakes

Gangtok: 7th July:During the recent village tour of South and West districts, the Sikkim Chief Minister Chamling had raised concerns about the drying up of lakes and had directed that revival and regeneration should be initiated. In this respect, an inter departmental meeting was organized by RM&DD, chaired by Minister RM&DD, Shri C.B.Karki in the presence of Minister Forest, Shri Bhim Dhungel and other senior officers from Forest, Mines and Geology and RM&DD. The need to adopt a scientific approach, duly taking into consideration the catchment, geology, geohydrology and hydrometeorology was highlighted in this meeting. The initiative to revive Nagi lake by piping spring water from far away and the recent studies on reviving select lakes conducted by Mines and Geology Department as well as ACWADAM, Pune (Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management) were also presented. During the meeting it was decided to take up the revival of 10 dried up lakes in the first phase by taking up recharge measures along the lines of Dhara Vikas. The strategy for revival would be to develop the lake as a recharge structure and not as a cemented storage structure. Only soil and moisture conservation works, afforestation, contour trenches and dug-out-ponds would be constructed in the recharge area to trap the surface runoff. An action plan for revival would be prepared by a joint team with representatives from the three departments who would be visiting the field shortly. The composition of this joint team to prepare the scientific revival plan was also finalized.