VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Tay, or West Lake, once known as the “green lung” of the capital city of Hanoi, is dying slowly due to rapid urbanization.

Scientists say the once-romantic lake, the largest in the city, could end up within a few dozen years as either a “dead water basin”, a big fish pond or a water tank to ease waterlogging.

The water of the lake is no longer limpid and blue as it was in the past. It looks black, and is patchy with oil slicks and garbage. A local man said the lake’s water has changed color because of the waste water discharged from pleasure boats and about 200 restaurants and shops surrounding the lake.

Dr. Pham Ngoc Dang, deputy chair of the Vietnam Association for Nature and Environment Protection, confirmed that West Lake is seriously “ill” because of numerous polluting sources, including restaurants, hotels and service works located near the lake.

According to Dang, the water quality of the lakeside area is worse than the water in the middle of the lake, with the pollutant concentration two times higher.

Scientists believe the best solution to the pollution problem is to upgrade the sewer system around the lake. This would prevent garbage and dirty water from flowing into the lake.

They said the West Lake needs to “rest” for some time to recover and return to its state as it was in the 1960s. In addition, biological solutions will also be applied to protect the biodiversity of the lake.

Nguyen Ngoc Ly, MA, director of the Environment & Community Research Center, believes West Lake can be revived if it is rescued now with reasonable measures.

Ly said the lake could recover more easily than smaller lakes.

“West Lake will have a chance to recover and live, if it is managed by a qualified management board which regularly dredges the lake, collects garbage and treats waste water before the water flows to the lake,” Ly said.

An official of the Tay Ho District People’s Committee said local authorities have asked city’s authorities to instruct agencies to relocate the pleasure boats on the water surface into a certain area. This would help better control the waste discharge from the boats.