NMC through its WRD has started works to strengthen overflow system at Ambazari lake

Nagpur: Nearly 51 months after the deadline set by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) through its Water Resources Department (WRD) has started work to completely strengthen the overflow system at Ambazari Lake. And in the next phase itself, the civic body plans to strengthen the nearly 150-year-old earthen embankment.

With the help of around Rs 3.15 crore from NMC and around Rs 1 crore from MahaMetro, the Water resources department has completed the work of substantial strengthening of the west weir at the overflow point. “The jacketing is done inside the lake on the back of the vest wear. A retaining wall of about 60 meters has been built on the south side of the overflow point. Flooring is being done in front of the waste wear. The overflow system will gain strength and be ready to face any eventuality.” WRD officials said.

The officials have also said that the earthen embankment will be developed as a proper top pit of the dam. “There will be stone-pelting on both sides of the embankment. Nagpur Municipal Corporation will be asked to remove all the trees on the embankment. Curved walls will be made after the railing on two sides of the upper pit.” they said.

WRD officials also said that the road above the embankment would be widened to 6m from the current 4.5m. And at the same time paver blocks will be installed on the same. And NMC will have to empty all the water in the dam for execution of all the works.”
They said.

Along with this, there is a plan to construct a bridge on the road in front of the overflow point for smooth flow of overflowing water. And water stagnates and accumulates on this bridge because it is at a low level, and it is also narrow. The water resources department is going to redevelop the bridge as part of reinvigorating the lake.

The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has gone ahead with the plan to develop about 100 food stalls under the Metro Rail corridor, even below the embankment.

TOI had also reported several times about the threat to the dam due to lack of maintenance of the embankment, leakage in the waste weir and construction of the metro rail corridor. And also activist Mohammad Shahid Sharif filed a public interest litigation in the High Court and in which the danger to the people living in the lower part of the lake along with the embankment was underlined.

In an order dated March 21, 2018, the High Court had also directed the government agencies to finalize the plan for super-strengthening the embankment before April 15, 2018, and start work immediately. And the work started about six months back.

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