Once a tranquil oasis teeming with natural life, Ghuma Lake in Ahmedabad has now become a casualty of the city’s unbridled urban sprawl. The serene haven, which once hosted a vibrant ecosystem of birds and buffaloes, has been engulfed by the relentless expansion of our rapidly growing cityscape.
This unfortunate incident mirrors a larger trend identified by a recent study conducted by a team from Gujarat University. Published in 2023, the study paints a grim picture of Ahmedabad’s waterbodies over the past two decades. Analysing satellite imagery from 2000 to 2022, the study revealed alarming statistics: 10% of the city’s waterbodies have degraded, 40% have been reconstructed, and a staggering 50% have shrunk or fragmented.
Prof Anil Gupta, a former professor at IIM Ahmedabad and founder of SRISTI and Honey Bee network, voiced his distress about the disappearing lake on X, formerly known as Twitter, highlighting the loss of this natural treasure amidst urban development. Despite numerous alerts, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), AUDA have allowed this lake in Ghuma to be filled up for real estate. Sorry dear lake, could not save you!” the professor tweeted on Monday, tagging the chief minister’s office, the prime minister’s office and the media.
Speaking to media, Prof Gupta shared his observations of the waterbody — a small lake near the rapidly developing stretch between South Bopal and Ghuma — over the past three years. “Initially, there was water in the lake and a small ecosystem had developed around it. However, in 2021, I raised an alarm when I noticed the waterbody shrinking due to waste being dumped into it. When I recently visited the spot, it was almost gone,” he said. The lake has been completely filled in with construction debris and is likely to be used to construct buildings, said environmentalists.Prof Gupta, a long-time advocate for grassroots innovation and sustainability, said, “Only a small number of waterbodies remain in the city. Everyone has to ensure that these are preserved.”
Among the most severely impacted waterbodies are Makarba and Ramol, with shrinkage rates of 15% and 14%, respectively. The bulk of this deterioration occurred between 2012 and 2022, highlighting the accelerated pace of environmental degradation in recent years. Environmentalists in the city have sounded the alarm, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive surveys of smaller waterbodies, particularly in developing areas. They stress that conservation efforts must be prioritised to prevent further loss of precious natural habitats and ecosystems. The disappearance of Ghuma Lake serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of unchecked urbanisation and the pressing need for sustainable development practices. As cities continue to expand, it is imperative that policymakers, urban planners, and environmentalists work together to strike a balance between growth and environmental preservation, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
