THE Nagpur bench of the Mumbai high court has ordered restoration of the world’s third largest meteorite lake in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra. A recent study by a group appointed by the court, pointed out that Lonar lake is a dumping ground for raw sewage from localities in the vicinity, making it unfit. The court formed two committees to oversee the restoration work on September 29.
Lawyer Kirti Nipankar filed a public interest litigation before the Nagpur bench in November 2009, demanding that dumping of sewage into the crater and seepage of fresh water, which is altering the pH of the lake’s salt water, be stopped; forests in its vicinity be restored. Speaking to Down To Earth, Nipankar said both the crater and temples surrounding have been neglected by every department. Following this, the court formed a three-member committee under retired forest principal chief conservator B K Singh to study the lake's condition and make recommendations.
The committee submitted its report to the high court on August 24, which included effective forest restoration, removal of construction work in the area up to 500 metres from the rim of the crater, effective seepage prevention measures, diverting the Lonar- Mantha road by one km from the rim of the crater and development of the lake as an eco-tourism spot.
A meeting was held in Mumbai by chief minister Ashok Chavan on October 11, in which decisions were taken to draw up a masterplan for restoration and to acquire 11 hectares of farmland in the lake’s vicinity. District collector N Ramaswami said negotiation with farmers for acquiring farmland has already started. The saltwater lake finds its first mention in the Skanda Purana, ancient Hindu scriptures. Activists are now demanding that world heritage status for it.