Rajkot: The scenic Randarda Lake, a favourite hang-out place for citizens, presented an ugly picture with hundreds of Dashama idols being dumped into the waterbody located on Bhavnagar Road on Tuesday.The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials could only twiddle their thumbs as idols and plastic waste lay littered along the lake’s banks after the idol immersions on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Immersion in this lake is strictly prohibited but the ban has remained only on paper. Randarda lake is a home to nearly 129 migratory bird species as well as native birds some of which are seen throughout the year. Environment activists fear that a similar situation would arise during Ganesh idols immersions after Ganesh Chaturthi in September.Pradhyuman Park Zoo run by RMC is situated on the bank of this lake and the area is also declared as a silent zone. People, however, came in processions accompanied by loud DG music and beating of drums late in the night and early morning. According to security officers at zoo, they even tried to stop them but as it was a mob, they couldn’t do much.RMC has also not cleared the idols even after getting information that they were strewn everywhere.Dharmesh Kargathra, an environment activist, said, “This is a natural lake and home to large number migratory and native birds. If RMC does act against this nuisance, we fear that Ganesh idols will also be immersed here in big numbers, which would be detrimental to the wildlife.”According to bird watchers, birds like Dalmatian pelican, Kashmir flycatcher, painted stork, black-necked stork, bar-headed goose and peregrine falcons come to Randarda lake and even nest year. The civic body has already moved a plan to beautify the lake. When contacted, municipal commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani said, “I have no idea about the situation there but immersion is prohibited in the lake and we will see that it won’t be repeated.”

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