Rabindra Sarobar at a Crossroads: Restoring Kolkata’s Urban Oasis through Community-Led Action
Nestled in the heart of South Kolkata, Rabindra Sarobar is more than a serene waterbody — it is an emotional, ecological, and cultural landmark for the city. Spanning over 192 acres, this artificial lake was created in the 1920s as part of the Calcutta Improvement Trust’s urban development initiative. Over the decades, it has grown into a cherished public space, attracting early morning joggers, birdwatchers, boating enthusiasts, and spiritual seekers.
Rabindra Sarobar has long served as Kolkata’s green lung, offering an escape from the city’s density and pollution.
Yet, in recent years, the lake’s pristine charm has begun to fade. Algae-infested waters, the smell of rot, and the floating waste that dots the surface tell a tragic story of urban water pollution.
Once a jewel of civic planning, Rabindra Sarobar is now plagued by the very problems that threaten urban lakes across India: sewage dumping, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and unregulated development.
Rabindra Sarobar’s fate is now at a crossroads. A renewed commitment to river cleanup, waste management, and climate action can make the lake a shining example of urban ecological restoration — and this article lays down the blueprint for that transformation.
Key Problems Facing Rabindra Sarobar
Sewage and Wastewater Pollution
One of the most pressing issues affecting Rabindra Sarobar is the inflow of untreated sewage and greywater into the lake. Though originally built as a clean recreational waterbody, over the years the lake has become a catchment for urban runoff and stormwater drains from adjacent neighborhoods like Southern Avenue, Lake Gardens, and Dhakuria.
The absence of sewage treatment plants (STPs) near the lake means that harmful effluents often enter the water untreated, leading to elevated Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels — indicators of toxic water quality. As per a CPCB report, urban waterbodies like Rabindra Sarobar face critical water quality degradation due to such inflows.
Without immediate interception and diversion systems, continued inflow of sewage not only threatens aquatic biodiversity but also poses serious public health risks. Solutions like bio-remediation and floating treatment wetlands have shown promise in similar ecosystems, and must be considered for Rabindra Sarobar as well.
Solid Waste Dumping
Solid waste, especially plastic waste, is choking Rabindra Sarobar. On any given day, one can find PET bottles, polystyrene plates, food packaging, and torn cloth pieces floating along the lake’s banks.
The situation escalates dramatically during festive seasons such as Durga Puja, when idol immersions and religious rituals generate massive quantities of floral offerings, plastic wrappings, and painted residues. These not only pollute the lake’s surface but introduce non-biodegradable microplastics into its sediment.
According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), waste generation in the city touches 4,500 tonnes per day, and a significant fraction of this — especially single-use plastics — ends up in water bodies due to poor segregation practices.
Earth5R’s waste segregation at source model, along with community-driven recycling programs, offers a proven alternative to this crisis, ensuring that plastic waste is intercepted and repurposed before it reaches urban lakes like Rabindra Sarobar.
Water Quality Degradation
The cumulative impact of sewage and solid waste is evident in the lake’s declining water quality. Multiple studies, including a joint survey by WBPCB and IIT-Kharagpur, have confirmed low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels, high turbidity, and excessive presence of algae blooms, especially during summer months.
Eutrophication, caused by nutrient overload from detergents and fertilizers, creates an oxygen-depleted environment that suffocates fish and aquatic plants.
One key visual indicator of this crisis is the color of the water — once clear and reflective, now increasingly murky and greenish due to algal overgrowth. Additionally, the presence of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium in water samples hints at contamination from urban runoff and industrial waste, further complicating cleanup efforts.
Earth5R’s Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring strategies using low-cost IoT sensors can provide continuous data and actionable insights to prevent further deterioration of water quality.
Loss of Biodiversity
The Sarobar once attracted dozens of species of migratory birds, butterflies, and freshwater fish. Today, however, the lake’s ecological diversity has seen a sharp decline. A 2023 survey by the Nature Mates Nature Club noted that the number of migratory bird species visiting Rabindra Sarobar during winter had reduced by over 60% compared to the previous decade. Frequent dredging, noise pollution, and a toxic aquatic environment have rendered the lake uninhabitable for many sensitive species.
Fish species such as rohu, catla, and tilapia have also shown decreased population density, affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen and vendors who depend on small-scale harvesting. This biodiversity loss is symptomatic of larger systemic neglect, and can only be reversed through integrated ecosystem restoration programs and the reintroduction of native species.
This site map of Rabindra Sarobar, developed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, illustrates the lake’s zoning and key facilities such as Safari Park, Padma Pukur, and Ley Pool. It serves as a crucial reference for implementing Earth5R’s BlueCities Model to restore and sustainably manage this vital urban oasis.
Encroachment and Unregulated Use
The lake’s boundaries have been slowly encroached upon by commercial vendors, unauthorized constructions, and even civic beautification projects that disregard ecological balance. According to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), nearly 20% of the lake’s natural buffer zone has been lost to development over the last 15 years.
Jogging tracks, boating clubs, and cultural installations have gradually overtaken the wetlands and marshy areas, destroying the lake’s natural recharge capacity.
Without strong enforcement of urban waterbody zoning laws and sustainable planning, the encroachment will continue to shrink Rabindra Sarobar’s ecological footprint. As Earth5R’s BlueCities model suggests, urban green spaces should be shared equitably, but also protected from exploitative development that harms the ecosystem in the name of civic convenience.
Groundwater Contamination
Another unseen but critical problem is groundwater contamination around the Sarobar area. Unregulated chemical runoff from gardens, nearby garages, and domestic greywater discharge introduces phosphates, nitrates, and detergents into the soil. These seep into groundwater aquifers, endangering both biodiversity and human health.
Unchecked groundwater contamination has long-term repercussions — from increased urban flooding during monsoons to the gradual salinization of soil. Rabindra Sarobar’s restoration must therefore include peripheral soil rehabilitation, water table mapping, and public awareness campaigns on eco-friendly gardening and waste disposal, as promoted through Earth5R’s citizen training programs.
Consequences of Rabindra Sarobar’s Decline
Public Health Risks
The degradation of water quality in Rabindra Sarobar has direct consequences for public health. Contaminated water containing high levels of fecal coliform bacteria poses severe risks of waterborne diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and hepatitis A.
The proliferation of mosquito breeding grounds due to stagnant water and algal blooms has contributed to rising incidences of vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria in the adjoining neighborhoods of Lake Gardens and Dhakuria.
The problem is exacerbated by lack of public awareness regarding lake pollution and hygiene. Earth5R’s environmental awareness workshops in Mumbai have shown how simple, community-driven education can reduce exposure to health risks by promoting hygienic practices and advocating for clean urban water bodies.
Increased Urban Flooding
The encroachment of natural drainage zones and wetland buffers around Rabindra Sarobar has significantly reduced the lake’s flood absorption capacity. This has led to a sharp rise in urban flooding during monsoon seasons, with roads and lanes in areas like Southern Avenue and Rashbehari often waterlogged for hours.
According to a report by TERI, the disappearance of natural lakes and wetlands is directly linked to increased flood frequency in cities.
Without proper stormwater management integrated into urban planning, this trend will continue. Earth5R’s community-based lake restoration models advocate for restoring wetlands and constructing bioswales to mitigate urban flooding and improve climate resilience.
Economic Losses
The decline of Rabindra Sarobar translates into hidden economic losses for Kolkata. From decreased tourism revenue due to a degraded public space, to rising municipal expenses for flood control and public health, the economic toll is far-reaching.
According to UNEP’s report on ecosystem services, healthy water bodies save cities millions by naturally regulating temperature, filtering pollutants, and enhancing biodiversity.
Furthermore, the loss of green jobs such as park maintenance staff, gardeners, local tour guides, and small vendors around the Sarobar represents an erosion of sustainable livelihoods. Earth5R’s focus on green employment and skill development can help regenerate these lost economic opportunities while strengthening the local circular economy.
Social Inequality
The impacts of environmental degradation are disproportionately felt by economically weaker communities.
In areas near Rabindra Sarobar, lower-income families living in semi-urban colonies or informal settlements often rely on the lake for daily water use, small-scale fishing, or as a communal recreational space. With the lake’s pollution levels soaring, their access to clean water and healthy surroundings is increasingly compromised.
This reinforces existing social inequalities, where the affluent can retreat to gated green enclaves while vulnerable communities bear the brunt of ecological decay. Earth5R’s inclusive sustainability training empowers such communities through citizen participation, creating models of environmental justice and ownership at the grassroots level.
Why Past Efforts Have Failed
Institutional Fragmentation and Bureaucratic Inertia
Despite being declared a national lake under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), Rabindra Sarobar’s revival has largely stalled due to institutional fragmentation and misplaced priorities.
Responsibility for the lake is divided among multiple agencies — the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) — resulting in overlapping mandates and bureaucratic inertia.
Misplaced Focus on Beautification Over Restoration
Many past projects have focused more on beautification, such as installing benches, fountains, and statues, rather than addressing core ecological challenges like water pollution and wetland loss.
These cosmetic changes often disrupt biodiversity and increase human intrusion without restoring natural systems. A Down to Earth analysis of urban lakes highlights that beautification without ecological restoration is a common cause of failure across Indian cities.
Lack of Real-Time Monitoring Systems
Another glaring issue is the absence of real-time pollution tracking and public data dashboards. Unlike cities like Mumbai, which have implemented IoT-based river health systems through Earth5R’s smart environmental monitoring platforms, Kolkata lacks a continuous feedback mechanism to measure lake health and hold authorities accountable.
Minimal Community Participation
Moreover, there has been a significant lack of continuous citizen engagement, which is essential to sustaining long-term restoration. In contrast, Earth5R’s citizen-led cleanups in Mumbai and Chennai have shown that public ownership — built through workshops, training, and local leadership — can be the driving force behind successful waterbody revitalization.
What Needs to Be Done: The Blueprint for Complete Lake Restoration
To bring Rabindra Sarobar back to life, we must adopt a multi-layered, integrated restoration strategy that blends technology, community engagement, science, and policy reform. Below is a detailed action blueprint.
Zero Untreated Sewage
The first step toward lake revival is eliminating untreated sewage inflow. This can be done by installing interception and diversion systems, upgrading nearby sewage treatment plants, and ensuring strict compliance with discharge norms.
Earth5R’s data-driven river diagnostics in Mumbai demonstrated how pollution source mapping and localized STP upgrades can reduce contamination by over 60% in just one year.
Real-time monitoring with sensor-based water quality indicators, public dashboards, and municipal-level compliance auditing must be made standard operating procedure for Rabindra Sarobar.
Solid Waste to Circular Economy
Managing plastic waste and solid debris through a circular economy model is crucial. Establishing decentralized Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) around the Sarobar, coupled with household-level waste segregation training, can dramatically reduce waste entering the lake.
Earth5R’s TrashBoom innovation in Mumbai — a low-cost barrier to intercept floating waste — can be deployed across stormwater drains leading into Rabindra Sarobar. Recovered waste can be processed into eco-bricks, compost, or recycled through CSR-funded initiatives, thus integrating environmental restoration with livelihood generation.
Ecological Restoration
Beyond water and waste, restoring native ecosystems is essential. The lake’s edges should be replanted with native wetland flora such as Typha, Cyperus, and Nelumbo, which naturally filter pollutants and support avian biodiversity. Constructed wetlands and floating islands can reintroduce biological filtering to the lake.
Earth5R’s ecological restoration in Powai Lake, Mumbai is a scalable model, where community groups were trained to maintain native plant zones, clean nesting habitats, and build biodiversity corridors — ensuring the lake became a thriving ecosystem once again.
Community Ownership Models
Revival efforts will only succeed if there is community ownership. Creating a Lakekeeper Collective involving local schools, residents, jogger clubs, and youth groups can ensure long-term stewardship. Earth5R’s Citizen Science Projects empower residents with simple tools to measure and monitor water quality, biodiversity sightings, and waste levels.
Regular environmental workshops, certification courses, and hands-on CSR volunteer events can foster a sense of civic pride and citizen participation. These efforts must also be inclusive, with special focus on training women, students, and marginalized communities.
Transparent Real-Time Data Monitoring
The lake must have a digital pollution tracking system. Installing low-cost IoT sensors, connected to a public online dashboard, can provide real-time information on DO, pH, temperature, and turbidity. This promotes transparency, enables faster municipal responses, and engages citizens through data.
Earth5R’s technology integration in river cleanups — supported by academic collaborations and climate tech start-ups — proves that even small cities can implement smart monitoring with the right partnerships. Similar tools can be scaled across all of Kolkata’s lakes under the Smart Cities Mission.
Earth5R BlueCities: The Proven, Scalable Solution
What is the BlueCities Model?
Earth5R’s BlueCities initiative is a pioneering, community-based urban restoration model that transforms polluted lakes and rivers into vibrant ecosystems through integrated action across environmental education, data collection, ecological engineering, and circular economy solutions.
Unlike top-down restoration plans that often fail due to lack of citizen engagement and adaptability, the BlueCities model is bottom-up, data-driven, and participatory — designed for urban resilience and scalability.The BlueCities methodology aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
By engaging all city stakeholders — from local authorities and educational institutions to residents and corporates — BlueCities ensures shared ownership and accountability in urban waterbody restoration.
Mumbai’s Transformation as a Template
The success of the Mumbai River Revival project serves as a powerful case study for how the BlueCities model can be applied to other urban water bodies like Rabindra Sarobar. In Mumbai, Earth5R mapped 100+ pollution points across the Dahisar, Poinsur, and Mithi Rivers using GPS-tagged citizen science data and initiated targeted clean-up drives, IoT-based pollution tracking, and sustainable waste recovery processes.
Through its TrashBoom innovation — a low-cost floating barrier that traps solid waste — Earth5R diverted plastic debris from river mouths and built recycling hubs in collaboration with local waste pickers. These efforts were complemented by educational workshops, skill-building initiatives, and active involvement of local youth — all of which significantly improved ecological indicators and community engagement.
This blueprint demonstrates how smart, scalable, and inclusive frameworks can be successfully replicated in a culturally and geographically different city like Kolkata to restore Rabindra Sarobar.
Community at the Core
One of the hallmarks of the BlueCities model is its deep-rooted community involvement. Earth5R’s Sustainable Development Workshops train citizens on biodiversity tracking, waste segregation, water quality testing, and ecological stewardship — creating a Citizen Task Force equipped to protect local waterbodies.
In Mumbai, more than 20,000 citizens have been trained through Earth5R’s volunteer programs and education modules. These citizen scientists not only report pollution but also engage with local municipal bodies to co-develop solutions.
A similar force of local guardians could be activated around Rabindra Sarobar, including students from nearby institutions like Jadavpur University, Lake Mall community members, and morning walkers at the Sarobar.
The Urgent Choice Before Us
Rabindra Sarobar’s decline is not just an environmental issue — it is a socio-economic and ethical challenge that reflects our city’s priorities and values. Once a symbol of ecological harmony and cultural pride, the lake now teeters on the brink of irreversible damage. The choice before us is stark: continue with piecemeal beautification and bureaucratic inertia, or adopt scientific, inclusive, and community-led restoration frameworks that have proven successful elsewhere.
The Earth5R BlueCities model offers a clear, actionable path forward, rooted in global best practices and powered by local participation. It recognizes that lakes are not isolated water bodies, but dynamic urban ecosystems that impact public health, biodiversity, urban planning, and community resilience.
As Kolkata battles the dual challenges of climate change and urban sprawl, restoring Rabindra Sarobar is both a necessity and an opportunity to future-proof the city.
The time for action is now. A thriving Rabindra Sarobar can become a model of what sustainable urban living looks like — where people, nature, and policy work in synergy. We owe it to the city’s next generation to make this transformation real.
This map highlights the geographical location of Rabindra Sarobar (Dhakuria Lake) in relation to nearby neighborhoods like Lake Gardens and Jodhpur Park. Its central position within South Kolkata underscores the ecological and social importance of its restoration under Earth5R’s BlueCities Model.
Data Snapshot Box Of Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata
The following snapshot table provides a quick comparison between current environmental conditions at Rabindra Sarobar and desired ecological benchmarks, along with verified sources for reference.
| Indicator | Current Status | Ideal Target | Source |
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) | 12–14 mg/L | < 3 mg/L | WBPCB Report |
| Dissolved Oxygen (DO) | < 3 mg/L | > 5 mg/L | CPCB Data |
| Fecal Coliform Count | 3,500 MPN/100ml | < 500 MPN/100ml | National Water Quality Monitoring Program |
| Wetland Area Lost (2005–2023) | 22% | 0% loss | WWF-India Wetlands Report |
| Floating Waste Volume (Monthly) | 18–20 tons | < 2 tons | KMC Reports |
| Public Participation Rate | < 10% | > 60% | Earth5R Pilot Data |
| CSR Funding in Lake Projects | ₹4 Crores/year (India average) | ₹12 Crores/year | India CSR Outlook Report |
These metrics can serve as the foundation for Kolkata’s lake restoration dashboard — a tool that can track progress, ensure transparency, and align civic action with real-time data.
Urban Sustainability Opportunities for Kolkata
Restoring Rabindra Sarobar is not just about reviving a lake — it is a gateway to a broader, city-wide transformation. As one of India’s most vibrant metros, Kolkata has immense potential to evolve into a model of urban sustainability.
By integrating climate action, waste management, green mobility, and citizen engagement, the city can unlock long-term ecological and economic gains. The following focus areas present tangible opportunities for a greener, cleaner Kolkata.
Waste Management and Circular Economy
Kolkata generates over 4,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, much of which ends up in landfills or water bodies like Rabindra Sarobar due to gaps in segregation, collection, and recycling. However, initiatives such as Kolkata’s decentralized composting centers and waste-to-energy plants have shown promise. To accelerate progress, the city must invest in circular economy models that prioritize reuse, upcycling, and local waste entrepreneurship.
Organizations like Earth5R have pioneered community-level recycling initiatives and trained citizens to turn household waste into economic value. Incorporating Micro Recycling Facilities (MRFs) near Rabindra Sarobar, in collaboration with waste pickers’ cooperatives, could significantly reduce the burden on the lake and create green jobs in the process.
Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Kolkata’s vehicular emissions are a key contributor to urban air and noise pollution, impacting both human health and the ecological integrity of open spaces like Rabindra Sarobar. As per TERI’s 2022 report, nearly 35% of the city’s emissions are from the transport sector.
Investing in electric buses, dedicated cycling lanes, and pedestrian-friendly streets around Sarobar could reduce the carbon footprint while encouraging cleaner modes of transport. Earth5R’s Sustainable Mobility workshops in Mumbai offer a blueprint for implementing green transport solutions through community-led advocacy and pilot projects.
Linking lake restoration with mobility improvements will enhance accessibility and reduce ecological stress.
Urban Green Spaces and Biodiversity
Despite being called the “City of Joy,” Kolkata is gradually losing its green cover, with tree canopy loss exceeding 60% in the last three decades. Parks like Rabindra Sarobar, the Maidan, and Elliot Park are vital for biodiversity and urban cooling, yet they remain underfunded and poorly maintained.
Earth5R’s biodiversity restoration initiatives, which include native plant reintroduction and bird habitat monitoring, can help re-wild Sarobar’s periphery and improve the overall urban ecosystem. Involving students from nearby schools and eco-volunteers can turn the area into a living biodiversity classroom while boosting climate literacy.
Water Conservation and Management
As Kolkata faces increasing instances of urban flooding and erratic monsoons, improving water resilience is critical. Despite having abundant rainfall, much of the city’s water is lost due to poor rainwater harvesting, infrastructure leaks, and surface runoff pollution.
Rabindra Sarobar can serve as a demonstration site for advanced water management solutions like rain gardens, greywater reuse, and bio-swales. Earth5R has implemented similar features in its climate-resilient pilot projects, and with proper training and partnerships, these models can be adapted to Kolkata’s lake systems.
Enhancing Sarobar’s capacity for stormwater absorption will protect both its ecosystem and the city’s infrastructure.
Carbon Footprint Reduction and Climate Action
Kolkata ranks among the most climate-vulnerable cities in India, according to MoEFCC’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment report. Accelerated efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint are crucial. This includes introducing solar infrastructure, promoting low-carbon lifestyles, and supporting ESG-aligned businesses.
Earth5R’s Carbon Auditing and Corporate Sustainability services can help local institutions — including the Calcutta Rowing Club and other stakeholders around Rabindra Sarobar — measure and offset emissions. Aligning these efforts with the Smart Cities Mission will further enable access to funding and technical expertise.
Citizen Sustainability Engagement
No transformation is complete without informed and active citizens. Kolkata’s civic life is rich with student unions, cultural groups, and NGOs, all of whom can become powerful allies in shaping a greener city. Earth5R’s Environmental Education programs and online certification courses on climate change, waste management, and urban ecology have empowered thousands of people across India.
Launching citizen science projects around Rabindra Sarobar — like water quality testing, species mapping, and plastic waste tracking — can turn the lake into a hub of eco-literacy and action. Programs like the Eco-Leadership Fellowship can inspire young Kolkatans to lead this transformation.
From Lake to City: Earth5R’s Holistic Vision
By integrating river and lake restoration with broader urban sustainability initiatives, Kolkata can become a living model of environmental resilience. From climate adaptation and waste circularity to citizen empowerment, the potential for systemic change is immense. Earth5R’s BlueCities initiative is uniquely positioned to guide this transformation at every step — with tools, data, partnerships, and grassroots energy.
Together, through collective action and sustainable innovation, Rabindra Sarobar can once again become the beating green heart of Kolkata — a living testament to what cities can achieve when communities, ecosystems, and policies move as one.
-Authored By Pragna Chakraborty
