Nagpur: The city is on the verge of losing its water source, equivalent to about 17 football fields, forever as the state government has approved the rejuvenation of only 23% of the total 28.5 acres of Lendi Talav (lake) in central Nagpur. The remaining 77 percent of the area could pave the way for a concrete jungle, fear green activists.
TOI on September 14 reported the central government’s in-principle approval for the rejuvenation of two reservoirs Lendi Talao and Nayak Talab under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT).
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had submitted the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the two lakes to Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), a state-appointed agency for technical scrutiny and obtained approvals.
According to sources, the meeting of the State Level Technical Committee for AMRUT 2.0 was held a day ago, during which the NMC team led by Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, Superintending Engineer Manoj Talewar and others presented on two projects and in 6.42 the NMC team to undertake the rejuvenation work. proposed. One acre (22.53%) out of the total area of 28.5 acres of Lendi Talav in the DPR.
Accordingly, the committee reportedly approved the proposal. The committee has approved an amount of Rs 14.31 crore for the project.
A few years back, the NMC had submitted a DPR with the state seeking funds for rejuvenation of the Lendi pond under the State Lake Conservation Plan (SLCP). But the state did not approve the project and directed the NMC to remove the encroachment from the reservoir first.
Green activist Anasuya Kale Chhabrani questioned how a reservoir can be rejuvenated if only 23% of the total area is worked out. “It is an ongoing methodology to regularize unauthorized construction at the cost of environment, groundwater etc. and ‘gift’ precious land to builders and politicians. Dobe Lake disappeared for the same reasons. A nexus between officials, politicians and builders alike. Pandharbodi lake is on the verge of destruction due to this,” she said.
The state handed over the entire 28.5-acre area to the civic body on June 13, 2018, following a demand by the NMC to occupy the reservoir for rejuvenation. During the handover, the district administration prohibited the division, distribution or lease of land to anyone. for any other purpose.
According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report in 2019, the encroached part of the lake was 67,490.20 square meters (16.67 acres), which means that the reservoir has shrunk to a mere 11.83 acres.
During the discussion in the General Assembly of the NMC on October 4, 2021, the administration had informed the House that the present water body exists on about 12 acres of land. In the latest proposal, the NMC has sought rejuvenation of only 6.42 acres.
NMC officials did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
In the same meeting, the committee also approved the rejuvenation of Naik pond located downstream of Lendi pond. The project is planned in an area of 7.23 acres. The committee has sanctioned Rs 13.5 crore for this.
Now, the state will hand over both the projects to the Center which will sanction funds under AMRUT 2.0.
NMC also plans to rejuvenate Police Line Takli Lake in West Nagpur and Binaki-Mangalwari Lake in North Nagpur under AMRUT 2.0. DPRs of both the reservoirs are being prepared. The four reservoirs are facing the danger of destruction due to encroachment, siltation, lack of maintenance etc.
So far, the NMC has carried out rejuvenation works in Sonegaon, Gandhisagar and Pandharbodi lakes with the help of funds sanctioned by the state.
TOI on September 14 reported the central government’s in-principle approval for the rejuvenation of two reservoirs Lendi Talao and Nayak Talab under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT).
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had submitted the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the two lakes to Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), a state-appointed agency for technical scrutiny and obtained approvals.
According to sources, the meeting of the State Level Technical Committee for AMRUT 2.0 was held a day ago, during which the NMC team led by Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, Superintending Engineer Manoj Talewar and others presented on two projects and in 6.42 the NMC team to undertake the rejuvenation work. proposed. One acre (22.53%) out of the total area of 28.5 acres of Lendi Talav in the DPR.
Accordingly, the committee reportedly approved the proposal. The committee has approved an amount of Rs 14.31 crore for the project.
A few years back, the NMC had submitted a DPR with the state seeking funds for rejuvenation of the Lendi pond under the State Lake Conservation Plan (SLCP). But the state did not approve the project and directed the NMC to remove the encroachment from the reservoir first.
Green activist Anasuya Kale Chhabrani questioned how a reservoir can be rejuvenated if only 23% of the total area is worked out. “It is an ongoing methodology to regularize unauthorized construction at the cost of environment, groundwater etc. and ‘gift’ precious land to builders and politicians. Dobe Lake disappeared for the same reasons. A nexus between officials, politicians and builders alike. Pandharbodi lake is on the verge of destruction due to this,” she said.
The state handed over the entire 28.5-acre area to the civic body on June 13, 2018, following a demand by the NMC to occupy the reservoir for rejuvenation. During the handover, the district administration prohibited the division, distribution or lease of land to anyone. for any other purpose.
According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report in 2019, the encroached part of the lake was 67,490.20 square meters (16.67 acres), which means that the reservoir has shrunk to a mere 11.83 acres.
During the discussion in the General Assembly of the NMC on October 4, 2021, the administration had informed the House that the present water body exists on about 12 acres of land. In the latest proposal, the NMC has sought rejuvenation of only 6.42 acres.
NMC officials did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
In the same meeting, the committee also approved the rejuvenation of Naik pond located downstream of Lendi pond. The project is planned in an area of 7.23 acres. The committee has sanctioned Rs 13.5 crore for this.
Now, the state will hand over both the projects to the Center which will sanction funds under AMRUT 2.0.
NMC also plans to rejuvenate Police Line Takli Lake in West Nagpur and Binaki-Mangalwari Lake in North Nagpur under AMRUT 2.0. DPRs of both the reservoirs are being prepared. The four reservoirs are facing the danger of destruction due to encroachment, siltation, lack of maintenance etc.
So far, the NMC has carried out rejuvenation works in Sonegaon, Gandhisagar and Pandharbodi lakes with the help of funds sanctioned by the state.