Nainital (Uttarakhand), Sept.19 : In a bid to clean the waters of the famous Naini Lake and to restore its eco-system, lake development authorities in Nainital have begun an aeration project.

"The lake conservation project is a 4.75 crore initiative. This is to clean up the lake. The oxygen level is nil beyond eight metres from the surface. Through this project, we are recharging the lake with oxygen right from the bed of the lake to the surface. Oxygen deficiency has led to an unbalance in the eco-system," said Dheeraj Garbival, Secretary, Lake Development Authority.

This is the first time ever that this modern technique is being used in the country, Garbival added.

The system consists of two compressors, which are connected to aeration discs placed in the basin.

The compressors, housed in two separate buildings, will be operated as per requirements based on the concentration of the dissolved oxygen, thermal stratification and season.

The project is expected to increase the transparency of the lake, decrease the concentration of toxic gases and the production of algae, replace undesirable flora and fauna and create conditions suitable for the growth and breeding of fish.

However, residents are apprehensive of the system as they have witnessed an increase in dead fish following the installation of the system.

After they installed the plant the very next day itself dead fish rose to the surface. So, we were frightened,” said Yashpal Rawat, a resident.

Ashutosh Mishra, a scientist, said the surfacing of dead fish is only an initial phenomenon caused by the working of the system.

Because of the aerators that have been installed there (lake), a break in the thermocline and mixing is taking place in the lake. Oxygen from the top is coming down and nutrients from the bottom are going up. When this happens oxygen.