The Times of India                   07.03.2013

Celebrating Nagpur City embellished by lakes, but they need conservation

NAGPUR: Every city has some geographical features that embellish it. Some have hills, some have big rivers, while some are situated on the sea coast. Orange City has 11 small lakes and some hillocks, which once provided a beautiful contrast to the eyes. Unfortunately, due to callousness of the city administration, the lakes are in the danger of dying.

One of them, Pandhrabodi, has already been finished off by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), which leased it out for constructing tennis courts. While state government has included it in lakes rejuvenation plan, the work remains on paper. Environmentalist Sudhir Paliwal said, "A natural spring near the lake on LIT premises is being filled up. Most of our lakes are under serious threat from builders and slum encroachers."

Paliwal further said, "Naik Talao and Lendi Talao are surrounded by slums on all sides. The water is daily being polluted by sewage. Awareness has to be created among slum dwellers about the relation of groundwater and the lakes."

Of the remaining eight lakes, Gorewada is in excellent condition as it is the water supply reservoir of the city. Ambazari and Telangkhedi too are in good shape as their catchment areas have lot of open space. The rest have some problems but have been included in rejuvenation projects and can be saved if the government as well as Nagpurians have the will.

Some of them have already suffered damage. Gandhisagar, also known as Shukrawari Talao and Jumma Talao, was 1.5 times its existing size. The western part was filled up as the city spread towards Sitabuldi fort in early part of the twentieth century. Today, it is in the midst of the city and its catchment area has very little open space.

Sonegaon lake was fed by Pohara river, the third one of the city. However, in 2000 an underground pipeline was laid in its bed and unauthorized constructions came up, depriving the lake of its source. According to environmentalist Gopal Thosar, "There used to be a black stone weir constructed during the British period. Water from the lake flowed from the weir into a Bhonsla era garden which is situated now on airport premises and then into the river coming from Khamla," he said. The lake regularly overflowed till early 1990s, he added.

Three lakes of the city, Ambazari, Telangkhedi and Gorewada, have a glorious history. Ambazari was the only water supply source of the city in Bhonsla era and in British Raj till 1911 when Gorewada became the second source.

Ambazari tank is on the Nag river, from which the city derives its name. The river was dammed by Bhonsla king Bimbaji, who also built Sonegaon and Telangkhedi tanks. In nineteenth century, when Mahal was practically the eastern edge of the city, Gandhisagar was the downstream reservoir of Ambazari. Water was drawn from Shukrawari Talao as it was known then. The British laid pipelines from Ambazari to Gandhisagar, desilted Ambazari and increased the height of the bund to augment capacity. Today, its water is supplied to Hingna MIDC.

Telangkhedi or Futala lake is today managed by Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PKV). In Bhonsla era it was used solely to water the adjoining garden which was exclusively meant for royals. British found its water impotable.

NMC executive engineer Prakash Urade said there was hope for city lakes as central government had launched a rejuvenation scheme. "Gandhisagar and Sonegaon lakes have been included in it. Work on Sonegaon is complete while that on Gandhisagar is in initial stages. Rejuvenation of Ambazari and Telangkhedi lakes has been sanctioned by state government and awaits centre's approval."

Khadan lake, located in Police Line Takli, has been beautified by police department. Sakkardara lake's maintenance has been given to a private operator but it is not satisfactory. Pardi lake lies neglected on eastern edge of the city.

The Hindu                              07.03.2013

Apartment complex: GVMC role comes under scanner

MVP Colony Residents Welfare Association general secretary P. Satya Kumar and vice-president P.S. Raju at Sector 2 of MVP Colony address the media.

 

Residents’ association demands restoration of land to it for community purpose.

The CID naming IAS officer and former VUDA Vice-Chairman and GVMC Commissioner V.N. Vishnu in its FIR, has brought into focus again the unauthorised construction of an apartment complex at Sector II of MVP Colony.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has issued building plan approval for construction of an apartment complex in an area earmarked for community purpose. The GVMC authorities contended that VUDA being a higher authority on the proceedings (of allotment of land) given by it, building plan approvals have been given.

The CBI probed the irregularities in the allotment after a High Court direction. Mr. Vishnu who was transferred from his position as Municipal Commissioner came and deposed before the CBI. Subsequently, the investigation was taken over by the CID. The Vigilance and Enforcement wing also probed the irregularities in VUDA and submitted a report to the government.

Though VUDA allotted the land, the ownership of the land could have been verified by GVMC officials who prepared the proposals for approval of building plan. It was learnt that Mr. Vishnu noted “approved” on the file.

Files seized

All the files relating to allotment in Survey No 5p and 6p were seized by CBI and are now with the CID.

With the investigation now also focussing on the role of GVMC employees, mainly the City Planning Department, it is now expected that the actual investigation will zero in on who signed on the papers at various stages leading to the final approval by Mr. Vishnu. “Merely shifting the blame to VUDA is not justified. It’s incumbent on the GVMC employees to verify the ownership,” an official said.

VUDA had stopped pension of two of its retired administrative officers and suspended a senior assistant after irregularities came out.

Meanwhile, the residents association has demanded that the land be restored to it so that it could be used for community purpose.

MVP Colony Residents’ Welfare Association general secretary P. Satya Kumar demanded that the 4,114 square yards be restored to the association. “All the 12 sectors of MVP Colony has one big kalyanamantapam, that of the TTD. The space is meant to be used for public purpose like a play ground or a park.

The entire process of illegally allotting the land and the apartment complex coming up there has deprived MVP Colony residents of land which should genuinely belong to them,” said Mr. Kumar.

While the land was allotted at a throwaway price of Rs.3,500 a square yard, each apartment was sold at Rs.40 lakh, he alleged. Either the building should be razed or alternate land given to us, he demanded. The construction of the building raised up to five floors was stopped after the controversial allotment.

However, the association vice-president P.S. Raju said none should be made to lose in the process.

People have borrowed from banks and put in their hard-earned money in it to buy apartments. VUDA and GVMC, both are under the State government and had given all the permissions. It’s for the government to resolve the issue, he said.