The Cabinet has approved the appointment of two committees to oversee the conservation, rehabilitation and management of Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya, amid concerns over the deterioration of its water quality and surrounding environment.
Accordingly, a Monitoring and Management Committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Environment, will be appointed to oversee efforts to improve and sustainably maintain the lake and its catchment area.
A separate officials’ committee comprising representatives of relevant state institutions will also be established as the “Gregory Lake Conservation and Rehabilitation Action Committee.”
The decision follows a proposal by the Minister of Environment to establish a coordinated, scientifically based mechanism to maintain the water quality and environmental sustainability of Gregory Lake.
Studies conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) have found that phosphate, nitrogen and biochemical oxygen levels in the lake exceed normal water quality levels.
Authorities have identified several factors contributing to the deterioration, including silt accumulation over several decades, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, and wastewater and solid waste entering the lake due to urban activities.
Gregory Lake and its surrounding area were declared an Environmental Protection Area in 2007, considering the ecological importance of the area. (Newswire)
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