Mumbai, March 12 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced on Thursday in the state Assembly that the government will promptly request authorization from the Union Wildlife Department to extract water from Lonar Lake located in Buldhana district. The lake's rising water levels have led to the submersion of multiple temples, hindering access for devotees.

The Lonar Lake is recognized as a Ramsar site and holds the status of a National Geo-heritage site.

A crucial meeting is scheduled for Friday to secure the necessary consent from the Union Wildlife Department, as stated by Minister Naik, in response to a motion raised by Shiv Sena-UBT member Siddharth Kharat in the Assembly.

The water in the lake has turned pink and possesses saline characteristics, with Minister Naik noting that the state government is vigilantly observing its condition.

Kharat pointed out that while ₹41 lakh has been allocated for the water extraction process, progress has stalled due to a lack of cooperation between the wildlife and archaeology departments.

This situation has resulted in the submersion of six temples in the vicinity, including Gaymukh, Ramgaya, Paphreshwar, and Kamlaja Devi Temple.

Minister Naik informed the House that the heavy rainfall this year has caused several natural springs surrounding the crater lake to activate, leading to a water level increase of 20 to 25 feet.

Consequently, devotees are currently unable to reach the temples nearby.

Government sources report that the water level of Lonar Lake has surged by 15–25 feet (approximately 4–7+ meters) since 2022 to 2025, attributed to excessive rainfall, heightened underground spring activity, and agricultural runoff.

This rise poses a threat to the unique, highly alkaline ecosystem and has partially submerged ancient and historic temples like Kamalja Devi.

The increase in water level is primarily due to heavy rainfall (including over 100 mm in just three hours in 2025) and a substantial, consistent flow from four main freshwater springs around the crater.

Additionally, deep borewells (ranging from 600–700 feet) used for agriculture have disrupted the groundwater table, causing more water to flow into the lake.

Minister Naik stated that discussions will be held with officials like the Divisional Commissioner and District Collector to expedite the permission process from the Union Wildlife Department for early water extraction.

Moreover, he mentioned that ₹434 crore has been earmarked for development initiatives in the region, with ₹168 crore already utilized.

During the discussion, Kharat also highlighted the lack of elected representatives in the Lonar Lake conservation committee.