Mumbai: Powai lake’s cycle track is on Environment Ministry's radar

The ongoing construction work of the cycle track at Powai lake. Omkar Mahadeo, a researcher at IIT-Bombay, had earlier claimed that the work had damaged the water body and surrounding trees

After environment lovers raised questions over BMC's construction of cycling tracks along Powai lake, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change asked the forest department of Maharashtra to look into the complaint and take necessary action.

The MoEF&CC has written a letter to the principal secretary of the Maharashtra forest department regarding construction activities in the ecological-sensitive water catchment area and wetland of the lake, and has sought immediate action.

The copy of the letter has also been sent to the principal chief conservator of forest and additional principal chief conservator of forest, Maharashtra. mid-day has been consistently reporting the controversy surrounding the cycling track that the BMC is constructing.

Omkar Mahadeo, a researcher at IIT-Bombay, had earlier claimed that the ongoing work had damaged the water body and surrounding trees. Environment minister Aaditya Thackeray had visited the lake in June to inspect the work of the cycling and jogging track, and had said that special care would be taken to maintain the existing flora and fauna there.

Post mid-day's report, the MOEF&CC had also asked the Principal Secretary Forest to submit comments and action taken report on the said representation within 15 days. It is not clear whether the report has been submitted. Several environmentalists and nature lovers, including Youth for Aarey, a group actively involved in Aarey Milk Colony, have opposed the cycling track project at Powai lake and sent their objections with certain suggestions to the BMC.

Environmentalists even claim that BMC's own Development Control Regulations (DCR) didn't allow for any construction in a 100m-zone on the periphery of the lake, but the civic body still went ahead with the plan.