Leipzig

What was once seen as a disgrace to Leipzig has now become the pride of the city. Wide-spread lignite (brown coal) mines that devastated the ecosystem until 1995 are today called 'pearls of Leipzig' with beautiful, man-made water bodies adorning the landscape in the periphery. These mine lakes are also emerging as the maritime recreational paradise in this German city.

I had an opportunity to visit one such lake 'Cospuden Lake' located just about five kilometers from the city with a friend on a Sunday evening. Surrounded by a thick green cover, this huge lake has crystal clear water and a sandy beach. It has about 10 kilometers of paved path around it. A wide range of piers with restaurants, beer gardens, bars, cafes, hotels, shops and a number of sailing boats are available for tourists to amuse themselves around the lake.

I was told that there are about 18 such man-made, mine lakes around Leipzig, where tourists come in hoards to enjoy the beauty of nature. Each of these lakes is known for their distinct feature like Kulkwitzer Lake as diverse paradise with its chic holiday resorts, Markkleeberger Lake with white water ground, Hainer Lake with boat village and Cospuden Lake with piers. Of late, these lakes have become most-sought after destinations for water sports and adventure tourism. This is not all. Presently, the city government is working in a project to connect all these man-made and natural lakes through channels, which enable tourists to paddle far out of the city.

Leipzig, I was told, had rich deposits of brown coal, which was the main source of fuel for factories and power plants in the region. Brown coal mining was being done for many decades, and it was widespread and reckless during the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) regime. There were no strict rules to prevent the mines from damaging environment and, as a result, the atmosphere became highly polluted. So much so that outsiders dreaded visiting Leipzig. Soon after the end of GDR rule in 1989, the re-unified Germany decided to close down most of these mines (some mines are still working, but are guided by strict regulations). As part of the city rejuvenation programme, these abandoned mines were developed into beautiful lakes.

Leipzigers, I was told, have made great sacrifice to restore the environment: Almost 90 percent of people dependent on mines lost their jobs following the closure of mines, triggering an exodus of people. Conical shape chimneys and cooling towers still stand as part of Cospuden Lake landscape as reminiscent of the mines that once existed.

Looking at the breath-taking sunset view at the Cospuden Lake, I could not help but think about the infamous iron ore mining in Karnataka (one of the Indian States and Bangalore is its capital city). Having travelled extensively in the iron-ore rich Bellary district of my State, I have witnessed devastation the iron ore mines have caused to the ecosystem there. Not only air and water have been polluted, but vast expanse of forest has been denuded by the greedy mine owners. Bellary has about 150 mines and almost equal number abandoned mines. Though the green bench of Supreme Court of India has recently clamped down on reckless mining, no concrete step has been taken so far by the regional government to restore the environment.

What Leipzig underwent about two decades ago, our Bellary district is experiencing it now. And I hope that like Leipzig, Bellary too will be able clear the mining mess and restore the vital ecosystem. The Cospuden Lake projects, I believe, are examples for a successful implementation of an environmental-friendly and aesthetic concept for the reuse of a mining landscape.