Thane: Residents of Pokhran road and Upwan area are complaining of stench and mosquito menace from an artificial pond with stagnating murky water. The pond adjoining Upwan lake, was constructed for idol immersions during the festive season.The pond created near Payladevi temple was used extensively for immersion of Ganpati, Goddess idols and garba pots in a bid to encourage eco-friendly immersions.However, the administration apparently forgot to drain out the water from the pond, which, the local residents have claimed is causing inconvenience and may also lead to health hazards.The corporation had removed a bulk of water and debris from the pond but had forgotten to drain it out completely. The pond is located along the Upwan lake which is a favourite spot for walkers and joggers. Whenever we pass the stretch, the stench is often unbearable and one can see mosquitoes and all forms of pests hovering around the place, thanks to the stagnant water whose colour has also turned black probably due to the metal content, complained Umesh Shetty, a local resident.The issue was also raised by a local community group where residents expressed their concern at the potential health hazard. Residents of nearby housing complexes have complained about the menace and we are requesting the Vartak Nagar ward officials to take corrective action at the earliest, said Kasber Augustine, local resident.Environment lover and activist Rohit Joshi expressed concern at how the pond has remained filled with water nearly a month after Navratri idols were immersed. The central pollution control board has mandated some norms which need to be followed and if the corporation is flouting it with such impunity then we will escalate the incident, he said.When contacted, Manisha Pradhan, in-charge at the pollution control department blamed the unavailability of labour due to festive season and assured that the murky water will be drained out.We also published the following articles recentlyBarbie pond: Water mysteriously turns bright pink in this Hawaii refugeKealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Maui has a pink pond due to a combination of drought and halobacteria, a type of single-celled organism that thrives in salty water. The salinity in the pond is now twice as high as the ocean, causing the water to turn pink. The pink color is not harmful, but touching or drinking the water could be dangerous. The drought in Maui has increased the salinity levels, and the situation is expected to worsen due to the climate crisis.Chennai rain: Mayor inspects water flow in storm water drainsChennai mayor R Priya inspected storm water drains, canals, and rivers in the city following heavy rain. She visited desilting work on the GP Road and observed water being pumped out from low-lying areas. The mayor also monitored water stagnation in subways through a control room and took hotline calls from residents. Chennai recorded 18.03mm of rain from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, with Sholinganallur and Meenambakkam experiencing the highest rainfall of over 35mm.Myanmar troops detain, kill residents of Rakhine town: Local mediaAround 50 people have been detained and an unknown number feared dead in Myanmars Rakhine state after clashes between the military and the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group. The AA has launched attacks on security forces in western Myanmar, adding to the ongoing conflicts in the north and east. The military shelled the town of Pauktaw and residents reported being shot at from helicopters after AA fighters seized the police station. Thousands have fled the town, and the AA has accused the military of killing civilians.

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