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But for the state's politicians and local villagers, this forest-flanked lake is a space to dump their sewage, carry out farming, bathe and construct roads. Decades of destructive human activity and government apathy are threatening this sanctuary. "This is a living, ecological system, not a tomb like the Taj Mahal and has been totally neglected. It's a researcher's, scientist's and tourist's delight," says environmentalist Nishikant Mukherjee.