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Ramgarh Taal, a natural lake, is situated to the southeast of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and covers an area of about 723 ha. The catchment area around the lake is approximately 1632 acres, out of which, 1235 acres land is under Gorakhpur Development authority (GDA). Fishes of different varieties live in this water body. The former MP of the area, Mr. Virbahasur, in 1987 announced the Ramgarh Taal Tourist Complex scheme in 1987. From June 1987 to July 1988, GDA worked on this project. This was a 1200-acre project developed by the state government, to incorporate large number of activities, like water sports complex, buddha museum, planetarium, tourist bungalow and champa vihar park around the area. But in later years, the area began to lose its charm and condition of the lake deteriorated. The area of lake reduced from 723 ha to 669 ha in recent time. The depth of the lake has also reduced from 4.5 m in 1998 to 3.8 m in 2006.
The threat to the lake comes mainly from the residential colonies that have developed around the lake. According to the report of Gorakhpur environmental action group, around 800 quintals of wastes are dumped into the lake everyday from these colonies. Moreover, the waste is also dumped in and around the lake, resulting in foul smell.
The waste from households contains nitrate and phosphate, which results in eutrophication, leading to low oxygen content in the lake. The lake is leading from euthrophic condition to hyper-eutrophic condition. In May 2009, it was reported that the pH of the lake had become acidic (pH content recorded to be 11.5) and the temperature of the lake had also increased. Consequently there was a decrease in Dissolved Oxygen (DO). The DO was recorded to be 2.5 mg/l and the COD was 125 mg/l. This grave situation led to death of huge quantity of fish in the lake. The lake was found filled with dead fishes, resulting in stinking of the lake. A death of 150 quintals fishes was reported. News of fish death also came in during 2006. In 1998, there were about 28 varieties of fish, which had reduced to 18 in 2006. GDA is responsible for leasing out fishing rights in the lake.
The restoration of the Taal has been proposed under the National Lake Conservation Plan along with the Mansi Ganga Taal of Govardhan, Mathura, Laxmi Taal of Jhansi and Madan Sagar of Mahoba. Detail Project Reports (DPR) for pollution control works of these lakes costing Rs.142.22 crore had been prepared and submitted to the central government for approval. Money has already been sanctioned for Mansi Ganga Taal and other lakes are under consideration.
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