As part of the project to rejuvenate ponds of Raipur, water samples of five more ponds, out of 12 in the capital city, was collected on Tuesday.

One team of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and two teams of Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) from Hyderabad and Delhi collected the samples.

Samples from other seven ponds were collected on Monday.

Pramod Kumar Bhaskar, manager Lake Rejuvenation Project, Raipur Smart City Limited when contacted said, samples of five ponds mainly in Samta colony area, Kaari Talab, Aama Talab, Dhobi Talab, Ramkund and Kankali Talab were taken.

He informed that the dissolved oxygen (DO) of Raja Talab was found to be around 0.39 mg/l against the standard of 6 mg/l. The pond can be stated as dead due to lack of any aquatic organisms. The DO is an important indicator of water quality.

Similarly, water in the Dumartarai pond too have started to decay and has also started to affect the ground water level. It was found that those using ground water in and around the pond is having skin problem, mainly itching, he added.

The main reason for such a situation is that after National Highway to Arang was built, the drain water from the road was diverted to Dumartarai while the outlet water from the houses are also being drained into it.

Similarly, due to washing of clothes by residents using detergents the water condition is deteriorating in Kankali talab.

The water had therapeutic capacity as the pond has     connection with ground water, he said.