The concern comes at a time when the lake is already grappling with environmental stress caused by silting and declining water spread.

Concerns over the environmental health of Chandigarh’s iconic Sukhna Lake have intensified after allegations surfaced that untreated sewage is being discharged into stormwater drains connected to the lake, sparking calls for urgent civic action.

The issue was raised by councillor Jaswinder Kaur, who has formally approached the Municipal Commissioner with a complaint and supporting photographs, seeking immediate intervention to stop what she described as unchecked pollution entering the water body.

According to the complaint, localities near Khudda Ali Sher, including Shivalik Vihar, Kansal and Naya Gaon, continue to face inadequate sewerage infrastructure. This, she alleged, has allowed private septic tank cleaners to illegally empty waste into stormwater channels that eventually drain into the lake.

She warned that such activities are putting the city’s most prominent natural landmark at risk, contaminating its waters and threatening its ecological balance.

The councillor has urged authorities to carry out surprise inspections in the affected areas and crack down on operators found violating disposal norms. She also called for stricter monitoring of tanker movement and legal action against those involved in illegal dumping.

The concern comes at a time when the lake is already grappling with environmental stress caused by silting and declining water spread.

Constructed in 1958 under the urban vision of Le Corbusier, Sukhna Lake remains one of Chandigarh’s most celebrated public spaces and holds the status of a nationally protected wetland.

Earlier, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari had also voiced concern over the lake’s shrinking size, warning that if restoration measures are not accelerated, the water body could face severe degradation in the years ahead.

He had pointed out that more than half of the lake’s original area has been affected by sediment accumulation over the decades, raising serious questions over conservation efforts.

Environmentalists say the latest allegations should serve as a wake-up call for civic agencies to strengthen infrastructure and enforce strict protection measures to preserve Chandigarh’s defining landmark for future generations.