WATER POLLUTION AT MIRIK LAKE IN DARJEELING, WEST BENGAL: A LOCAL SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS

Mirik Lake is one of the popular tourist destinations in the Darjeeling mountain area of West Bengal, India. Due to the large number of tourists? inflow in Mirik Lake region, the demand for tourism and hotel industry has surged over the years and substantially contributed to the local economy. However, it has been noted that the water quality of Mirik Lake has been deteriorated over the years due to several reasons. The disposal of waste materials, including garbage, sewage, plastics from the hotels as well as tourists had caused severe pollution to the lake water. In this study, both primary and secondary surveys have been carried out to identify the problem and highlight the possible protectionist measures to combat the crisis. Earlier investigations on Mirik Lake during different time periods clearly established the decline in Mirik Lake?s water quality. The results obtained from the primary survey and analysis of data collected implied that tourism growth and hotel industry had played a crucial role in polluting Mirik Lake?s water quality. Though majority of the respondents had strongly opined that excessive human influence and hotel industry had resulted in ecological degradation of ?Lake Ecosystem?, but they still were in favour of growth of tourism and hotel industry for the socio-economic benefit of the region. The local respondents had suggested some protectionist measures from their perception level, and also wanted Government?s as well as local authority?s immediate actions to safeguard the Mirik Lake?s water quality and subsequently, conserve the ?Lake Ecosystem?.