The Times of India 15.04.2013
Centre yet to okay NMC's lake rejuvenation project
NAGPUR: The Ambazari Lake rejuvenation project proposed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation remains in cold storage due to the negligent attitude of the central government.
The state government had approved NMC's proposal to rejuvenate two city lakes - Ambazari and Futala - under National Lakes Conservation Plan (NLCP) almost a one-and-a-half years ago. Spread over 180 acres, Ambazari is the city's biggest lake.
Confirming this, Mohammed Israil, officer-in-charge of lakes and rivers at NMC, told TOI that the detailed project report (DPR) for the rejuvenation of Ambazari and Futala lakes was submitted more than a year ago. The proposal also had got approval from the environment department and government's steering committee.
As per the report, the civic body had sought Rs 11 crore for Ambazari Lake and Rs 10 crore for Futala. NMC was to bear 30% of the total sanctioned amount and the remaining was to be requisitioned from the central government. The state had already sent the DPR to the central government. However, the centre is yet to okay the report.
The delay in the project will not only push up the cost of rejuvenation, but also the level of pollution of the lake will go up, said VNIT ward corporator, Ashwini Jichkar.
Endorsing Jichkar, corporator Parinay Fuke blamed the corporation for turning a blind eye towards curbing pollution of the lakes.
Due to this and the lack of underground drainage network in this part of the city, Fuke said that sewage has started seeping into the lake. "The water body, which was once used for drinking, has been reduced to a sullage pit as sewage from MIDC and Dabha is being released into it through storm water drains," Fuke said.
Corporator Varsha Thakre, a resident of Ambazari layout, said, "We have been fighting to conserve the lake since several years now. The NMC officials have done nothing to stop sewage and waste being released into the lake. This has adversely affected the groundwater quality, rendering unusable. But, if the project remains incomplete, it will only lead to further degradation of the water body."
Though it was a welcome initiative by the NMC to allocate funds to improve the lake, residents say that the civic body must ensure that the project is expeditiously executed.
As the drainage pipeline laid to divert sewage from the lake is of inadequate capacity, the sewage gets choked and is seeping into the lake.
Residents said that manpower shortage and delay in floating tenders are being cited as the reasons behind set back in execution of the work. Smita Abde, a resident of Corporation Colony, said that the lake lacks outlets to carry surplus water and the area faces threat of inundation during monsoon.
The state government had approved NMC's proposal to rejuvenate two city lakes - Ambazari and Futala - under National Lakes Conservation Plan (NLCP) almost a one-and-a-half years ago. Spread over 180 acres, Ambazari is the city's biggest lake.
Confirming this, Mohammed Israil, officer-in-charge of lakes and rivers at NMC, told TOI that the detailed project report (DPR) for the rejuvenation of Ambazari and Futala lakes was submitted more than a year ago. The proposal also had got approval from the environment department and government's steering committee.
As per the report, the civic body had sought Rs 11 crore for Ambazari Lake and Rs 10 crore for Futala. NMC was to bear 30% of the total sanctioned amount and the remaining was to be requisitioned from the central government. The state had already sent the DPR to the central government. However, the centre is yet to okay the report.
The delay in the project will not only push up the cost of rejuvenation, but also the level of pollution of the lake will go up, said VNIT ward corporator, Ashwini Jichkar.
Endorsing Jichkar, corporator Parinay Fuke blamed the corporation for turning a blind eye towards curbing pollution of the lakes.
Due to this and the lack of underground drainage network in this part of the city, Fuke said that sewage has started seeping into the lake. "The water body, which was once used for drinking, has been reduced to a sullage pit as sewage from MIDC and Dabha is being released into it through storm water drains," Fuke said.
Corporator Varsha Thakre, a resident of Ambazari layout, said, "We have been fighting to conserve the lake since several years now. The NMC officials have done nothing to stop sewage and waste being released into the lake. This has adversely affected the groundwater quality, rendering unusable. But, if the project remains incomplete, it will only lead to further degradation of the water body."
Though it was a welcome initiative by the NMC to allocate funds to improve the lake, residents say that the civic body must ensure that the project is expeditiously executed.
As the drainage pipeline laid to divert sewage from the lake is of inadequate capacity, the sewage gets choked and is seeping into the lake.
Residents said that manpower shortage and delay in floating tenders are being cited as the reasons behind set back in execution of the work. Smita Abde, a resident of Corporation Colony, said that the lake lacks outlets to carry surplus water and the area faces threat of inundation during monsoon.
