Like many other urban lakes in India, once a healthy multiple-use ecosystem, the IDL Lake facing threat from all directions and calls for urgent action to restore it to its past glory. Prior to the commencement of any in-situ and ex-situ interventions, a situational analysis and feasibility study was conducted. The objectives of the situational analysis and feasibility study were to

• Understand the present status of the lake (baseline)
• Identify the root causes of lake degradation and their magnitude and
• Develop the best feasible solutions (preferably nature based) to address the problems.

The detailed scientific study included various important research components such as Spatial analysis (GIS & remote sensing) of lake morphology & hydrology and catchment area analysis water quality assessment and sediments analysis biodiversity pollution load stakeholders & institutional analysis nature-based solutions and feasibility study. 

The limnological study showed that the IDL lake ecosystem is unfit for aquatic life and human usages. It is heavily polluted with dead zones across the lake containing zero dissolved oxygen (DO). Limited number of aquatic macrophytes and birds were reported only along the shoreline (with birds feeding on solid waste).

Urban wastewater is becoming a serious challenge for city administrative bodies and calls for holistic and sustainable approaches. To keep installing more and more STPs to treat the ever-growing volume of sewage doesn’t seem to be the permanent solution in the long run. Rather, governmental policies should focus on addressing the root cause, which can be achieved through public participation. Housing associations and local industries/ commercial entities should be encouraged to treat, reuse, and recycle their wastewater at the source point. This will reduce the burden on both constructed and natural infrastructure and will bring both economic and ecological benefits to the city. 

This site can possibly present a case for ‘reuse pilot’ within the city where water can be diverted, treated, and reused for various urban purposes. For any such proposal diversion of sewage inflows is necessary.