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Shallow Lakes in Urban Area

In: Science

Submitted By parle
Words 3561
Pages 15
Sengupta, M. and Dalwani, R. (Editors). 2008
Proceedings of Taal2007: The 12th World Lake Conference: 1628-1634

Shallow Lakes in Urban Areas: Ecological Restoration of Lakes in Thane
City.
Manisha Pradhan1 and Pallavi Latkar2
1

Pollution Control Cell, Thane Municipal Corporation, Thane, Town Planner and Environmental Researcher,
GRASS ROOTS Research and Consultancy Mumbai, HOD Centre For Urban Studies Rachana Sansad Mumbai
E-mail :tmc_pcc@yahoo.co.in, pallavilatkar@gmail.com

2

ARSTRACT
Thane city historically known for the existence of the several shallow lakes is one of the most industrially advanced districts of the state of Maharashtra today. They are in existence earlier than 1881 and each one of them has a significant cultural and social significance associated with it. Water being the lifeline of communities and the prime determinant of the sustainability, settlements in the past were located in the proximity of easily accessible water resources. With the technological advancement in the field of centralized water supply systems, settlements are no longer confined to smaller clusters around water bodies. Hence over a period of time due to the demands of urbanisation, development has slowly crept up to the banks of these lakes thereby converting the once sprawling water bodies in to mere water tanks which are prone to degradation through development pressure, eutrophication and solid waste disposal Recently, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has taken tremendous efforts to revive the natural resources of the region and improve the environment in totality. One of the initiatives is the Lake
Conservation Programme.. The program not only included cleaning and bioremediation of the lakes but also took steps for creating lakes as the hub of economic activity, thereby providing an indirect source of livehood for many people. This

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