Fish die in Banganga tank at Walkeshwar; Minister Lodha inspects, 10 artificial ponds to be built
Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha visited the Banganga tank after fish died from polluted water and directed the civic body to act at once.
Fish have died in the sacred Banganga tank at Walkeshwar, which has historical and mythological significance, because of polluted water. Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha visited the tank and inspected the dead fish and the condition of the tank. Santosh Salunkhe, Assistant Commissioner of the municipal corporation's D ward, and local corporator Sunny Sanap were also present.
Lodha said that, with Pitru Paksha under way, emphasis would be laid on the measures needed to protect the sanctity and environment of the tank.
A "Seva Sankalp Abhiyan" is being run across the country on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. Under this campaign, the ward's senior office-bearers and workers had carried out a cleanliness drive around the Banganga tank. During Pitru Paksha, thousands of people come here for several religious rites, including pind daan. Some materials used in these rites are released into the tank water. This is feared to affect the water quality, and aquatic life has also been seen to suffer. For this reason, a cleanliness drive was carried out at once in the tank premises to protect the environment.
Last Thursday, the tank premises were inspected directly along with the municipal corporation's ward officials. In view of the crowds that grow during Pitru Paksha, the corporation has been told to take the necessary precautions so that materials from religious rites are not thrown in or around the tank.
Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha directed the corporation to take proper measures immediately for cleanliness, waste management and the protection of aquatic life. Ten artificial ponds will be built. The number of pumps to supply oxygen to the polluted water will also be increased. Pitru Paksha ends this coming Saturday, and the Banganga tank premises see heavy crowds during this period. Lodha therefore said the corporation should take the necessary precautions to keep the premises clean for the remaining days of Pitru Paksha and afterwards as well.
Some materials used during pind daan are released into the tank water. There is a risk to the health of aquatic creatures if they eat them. An appeal has therefore been made that, while following religious tradition, the pind daan rite at the Banganga tank be performed in an environment-friendly manner.
Lodha also appealed to people for cooperation. He said the Banganga tank has historical and mythological significance and that large numbers of people come here for religious rites during Pitru Paksha. Protecting the environment, along with remembering ancestors and following tradition, is everyone's collective responsibility. To save the aquatic life of the tank, people should not put oil, ghee, sweets or other items in the water and should perform pind daan in an environment-friendly manner. Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha appealed to people to cooperate with the administration to protect the sanctity and cleanliness of Banganga and its environment.
