Mumbai, March 12: Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced on Thursday that the state government will urgently seek permission from the Central Wildlife Department to drain water from Lonar Lake in Buldhana district. The rising water levels have submerged several temples, disrupting the movement of devotees. Lonar Lake is recognized as a Ramsar site and a national geological heritage.
In response to a notice raised by Shiv Sena-UBT member Siddharth Kharat in the state assembly, Minister Naik stated that a meeting will be held on Friday to obtain the necessary approvals from the Central Wildlife Department.
Minister Naik reported that the lake’s water has turned pink and saline. He emphasized that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.
Kharat mentioned that ₹41 lakh has been approved for draining the lake, but the work has stalled due to a lack of coordination between the wildlife and archaeology departments.
As a result, several temples in the area, including Gaymukh, Ramgaya, Pafeshwar, and Kamalaja Devi, have been inundated.
Minister Naik informed the assembly that heavy rainfall this year has led to the emergence of several natural springs around the crater lake, causing the water level in Lonar to rise by 20 to 25 feet. Consequently, devotees are currently unable to access the nearby temples.
According to government sources, the water level in Lonar Lake has increased by 15 to 25 feet (approximately 4 to 7 meters) between 2022 and 2025 due to heavy rainfall, increased activity of underground water sources, and agricultural runoff.
This rise is attributed to the continuous flow from four main freshwater springs around the crater, along with deep borewells (600-700 feet) dug for agriculture, which have impacted the groundwater level, resulting in more water entering the lake.
Minister Naik stated that discussions will be held with officials, including the divisional commissioner and district collector, to secure permission from the Central Wildlife Department to expedite the water drainage process.
He also mentioned that ₹434 crore has been allocated for development projects in the area, of which ₹168 crore has already been spent.
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