Though both the major political parties have been making tall claims for rejuvenation of water bodies in the “City of Lakes”, the voters here are disillusioned with their “restricted vision” which they say is unable to grasp the significance of the ecosystem that ensures protection of catchment areas. The lakes here are facing a major issue of pollution and reduction of submergence area.
After the successful removal of water hyacinth about six years ago, the water bodies such as Pichola Lake, Swaroop Sagar and Udai Sagar are facing contamination caused by the discharge of pollutants from the phosphorite mines and chemical factories and the release of sewage and domestic waste from settlements and hotels.
The residents of the city expect the two stalwarts pitted against each other - Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria (BJP) and former Union Minister Girija Vyas (Congress) - to resolve the lake pollution issue for saving the identity of Udaipur, on which the survival of tourism business depends.
Udaipur district BJP president Dinesh Bhatt told The Hindu that the State government was making “serious efforts” for conservation of lakes.
Mr. Kataria, contesting for the fourth consecutive term, has highlighted his achievements on the law and order front as the Home Minister and the city’s infrastructure development as the MLA during his election campaign. He has credited the jump in Udaipur's rank as a tourist destination to the projects initiated by the BJP government.
On the other hand, District Congress Committee general secretary Saddam Hussain said Ms. Vyas’ return to the constituency after serving in the Centre as the National Commission for Women's chairperson was a challenge before Mr. Kataria which he would find difficult to face.
On the lake front, the Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti and the Jheel Hitaishi Nagrik Manch have taken up the initiatives for educating the people and cleaning the water bodies.
Manch’s founder Haji Sardar Mohammed said the community efforts for taking out pollutants and aquatic weeds through boats had led to an improvement in the situation.
The activists working for conservation of lakes have demanded that the next government centralise the works currently undertaken by as many as five different agencies.
