A large number of fishes were found dead in the Mandli lake near the community hall in Bhayandar (West) on Tuesday, October 22. Citizens taking a morning walk there left in the state of shock after seeing this scenario.
This is owing to the daily dumping of floral waste, the ritual remains, filth, and plastic bags combined with the yearly immersion process of Plaster-of-Paris (PoP) idols.
The sanitation department of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) reached the spot and initiated work to remove the dead fish. Despite this, the damage to the lake’s overall aquatic life and water quality is yet to be assessed.
Demanding strict action against the responsible authorities, environmentalist Dheeraj Parab said, "Despite court orders and pollution control board advice, the municipal administration is failing to take concrete steps to prevent dumping of non-biodegradable POP idols, which are naturally toxic pollutants."
This year, on the second day of Ganeshotsav, 396 idols were immersed in this lake, which is one of the 21 immersion lakes in Mira-Bhayander. Out of them 281 idols were of POP which have accumulated at the bottom of the lake.
The number of POP idols immersed in the lake during the 11-day festival has gradually crossed 600. In addition, harmful chemicals used in paint also pollute the lake.
Recent studies have found that the sudden drop in oxygen levels after the immersion process is the main reason for the death of marine life. PoP idols do not dissolve easily and stay in water for a long time. But its toxic paints contain chemicals that form a layer on the surface of the water that blocks oxygen, thus adversely affecting marine life.
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