How to kill a lake

Nainital's future is threatened by a gradual killing off of its main water source

- PUJA AWASTHI

Around an emerald lake (tal), believed to be the left eye (nain) of Goddess Parvati, is the once charming town of Nainital.

It is a small town of many legends. The foremost being that it was perhaps one of the earliest known sites of land grab by the British in India. When an entrepreneur called Peter Barron set his eyes upon Nainital's soothing beauty, he decided that it needed to be commercialised. And thus was constructed the first English lodge after the local people were suitably threatened into handing over their lands. The lodge still stands.

But the lake around which this town of wondrous beauty is built is threatened by a gradual killing off of its main water sourceSukhatal, a natural depression which fills up with water during the monsoons. Almost half of Naini lake's water comes from Sukhatal, which during the non-monsoon months is a dry lake, on which cricket and football matches are played, and circus shows mounted.

As Nainital's popularity as a tourist destination grew, authorities decided that the edge of the Sukhatal could be used for construction. Surprisingly, a study produced by IIT Roorkee suggested a 'beautification' plan for Sukhatal. It included turning it into a permanent artificial water body complete with restaurants and other facilities to attract more tourists.