The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has raised concerns about a possible connection between the increasing water levels in Lonar lake and the backwater effects from the Yeldari dam, located 36 kilometers away. Presenting its assessment before a court-appointed committee, Neeri noted that the dam may have contributed to the emergence of additional water sources, potentially increasing freshwater inflow into the crater lake. The institute emphasized that a detailed study is necessary to establish the extent of this impact.
Court Proceedings and Stakeholder Input
The reasons for the rise in water level and proposed remedies to arrest the inflow were discussed in a meeting and placed before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday. The concern follows a sustained increase in the lake's water level since the last monsoon, with continuous inflow observed from multiple springs and four primary sources. The swelling waters have already submerged several temples in the vicinity.
Additional stakeholders also presented their views, while the court expanded the scope of the case by including the Akola Divisional Forest Officer and the Central Ground Water Board as respondents. Mohit Khajanchi assisted the court as amicus curiae, while Ravi Sanyal represented the pollution control board, Deepak Thakre appeared for the state, and Deputy Solicitor General Kartik Shukul represented the groundwater authority.
Technical Recommendations and Next Hearing
Separately, the Civil Engineering Department of the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) has recommended baseline surveys and the installation of piezometers to monitor groundwater levels. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18.
