The pollution in Hyderabad's Hussainsagar has gone from bad to worse.
According to researchers, the pollution has reached such alarming levels, that heavy metals have seeped up to three metres into the lake bed.
This came after researchers from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Warangal in collaboration with others, took samples of the water and soil of the Lake before and after the immersion of Ganesh idols and published their findings.
"The pollution extends to the depths of the historic lake, poisoning aquatic life and birds, as well as deep earth crust to a large extent," Prof M Chandra Sekhar, one of the researchers, was quoted as saying.
According to a report in the Times of India, Samples were collected from the Buddha Statue, Lumbini Park, Boats Club (Ranigunj), Necklace Road and NTR Garden and analysed , following which the researchers dubbed the lake a 'virtual garbage bin'.
The report also adds that the water sample had a Total dissolved solids (TDS) level of 1,126, while anything above 150 TDS is considered unfit for human consumption.
The lake, originally built in 1563, is a sorry sight today, with the stench of industrial effluents strong in the air. It was built over 1,600 hectares, now stands at a pitiful 4.4 sq km.
At present, the lake currently has four nalas through which effluents are released into the water body - the Kukatpally nala, Balkapur nala, Banjara nala and the Picket nala.
The pollution of the lake is only on the rise.
Read -