Miramar lake clean-up halted due to malfunctioning aerators

Panaji: The work of cleaning Miramar lake’s water has been suspended due to non-functional aerators, which were originally installed to enhance dissolved oxygen levels in the lake. A senior CCP official said, the aerator components malfunctioned, and the assigned contractor is procuring replacement parts from Bengaluru.

He said three out of four aerators became non-functional after its paddles sustained damage when plastic debris became entangled in their mechanism.

The CCP is spending Rs 5 lakh to treat the lake’s water. The contractor has been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the ecological balance and enhancing biodiversity and water quality of the lake, which is located near Lakeview Colony.

In Dec 2022, huge quantities of dead fish were found floating in the lake. Experts said the fish died either due to a lack of tidal flushing or pollution. Some citizens suspected that an influx of sewage might have caused it. The CCP commissioner then, Agnelo Fernandes, said that 20-22 kg of fish of different varieties were found dead.

As for the current clean-up, the CCP official said that water will be tested after the process to ascertain the improvement in dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand to prevent the death of fish in the lake.