“Dirty waters, yet an oasis,” that’s how some describe Naini Lake. Despite the descriptions, welcome to Naini Lake in Model Town Delhi. This lake is more than just a body of water. It is a story of community, resilience, and the ongoing battle for environmental preservation.
Naini Lake sits in the heart of Model Town. This upscale north Delhi locality is known more for concrete than wetlands. The fact that Naini Lake still exists is a minor miracle. There were two major attempts to turn it into a park.
Time for a quick rewind. Once upon a time, Naini Lake sparkled a bluish gem. This was before real estate developers arrived in the 1960s. Today, the lake has a greenish-black shade. Despite its appearance, Naini Lake is an oasis. Houses and roads surround it with walkways in the reclaimed area. It is home to water snakes, pond herons, white-breasted kingfishers and migratory birds. Cormorants, various fish species and some resident ducks also call it home.
Now, picture this. Many residents in Model Town have fond memories of Naini Lake. People have grown up feeding ducks and enjoying boating during holidays. They also enjoyed taking walks around the lake. However, the changing landscape brought boundary walls and cementing. The lake started giving off a stench that became nauseating in the summer. The buzzing insects disappeared.
In 2013, Naini Lake turned into a graveyard. Heaps of dead fish floated in the water. The authorities failed to take any action. Fish deaths became a regular occurrence. In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party promised to revive Naini Lake. They wanted to make it their first tourism project. An ecologist reported that the lake was nearly ecologically dead. He listed simple natural measures to revive the lake. These included creating inlets and outlets for rainwater. He also suggested introducing the right kind of fish and aquatic plant species.
Politics also play a role in the fate of Naini Lake. The lake is owned by the MCD but maintained by Delhi Tourism. These two agencies often shrug off responsibility. Some members of the local RWA want to commercialize the lake. This has allegedly been stymieing efforts to revive the lake.
In 2015, the RWA got a private company to run water sports on the lake. These activities disturbed the bird habitat. Residents launched a Save Naini Lake campaign. Hundreds of people joined in. The private company had to shut down business on the lake. Residents also succeeded in getting them to pull down all structures like the watch tower.
On October 1, 200 residents went on a protest march. They marched in solidarity for the lake. The slogan “Save-save Naini Lake!” filled the air. Politicians from all major parties have now extended support for the cause.
Today, the government is talking about reviving Delhi’s 600 water bodies. Naini Lake is seen as a role model. People feel a sense of belonging. Naini has become “our” lake. The term “ecological revival” was completely new for both the citizens and the government. MCD staff pays extra attention to the lake’s cleanliness. There has been a dramatic drop in the number of people throwing trash and food in the lake.
Naini Lake may not be as vast as some of the more famous lakes in Delhi. But it is large enough to support recreational boating. You can find pedal boats and shikaras here. So, when are you coming over for a leisurely evening at Naini Lake?