NMC goes slow on lakes’ rejuvenation

NAGPUR: On March 17, 2010, the state government approved Rs 5.02 crore for rejuvenation of Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes in city. After 21 months, all NMC has done is partial desilting of Sonegaon lake.
The city has 11 lakes -- Ambazari, Futala, Gandhisagar, Naik, Lendi, Sonegaon, Pardi, Khadan, Gorewada, Sakkardara and Dhobi talav. Many of them have turned into septic tanks and are marred by encroachments.Whenever questioned on their upkeep, NMC cited paucity of funds. Then state government came up with State Lake Rejuvenation Project in 2006-07.
NMC submitted the proposals to rejuvenate all the lakes under the scheme. The government approved rejuvenation and beautification of Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes. It issued a notification on March 17, 2010, approving Rs 5.02 crore -- Rs 3.24 crore for Sonegaon and Rs 1.78 crore for Gandhisagar. The government also released Rs 88 lakh including Rs 13 lakh for Sonegaon lake and Rs 75 lakh for Gandhisagar in April 2010. NMC was to execute the works and submit the utilisation certificate for getting next instalments.
While NMC did partially desilt Sonegaon, it did not complete any work at Gandhisagar. Construction of toilets has been started but is in initial stage. At Sonegaon too, desilting work was started late in summer and for some reason, only half the lake has been covered. No other work has started here.
It was expected that the works would restart after rainy season in 2010. But nothing was done till summer 2011. It was expected that the works would at least start from September 2011. But the situation has remained as it is. Mayor Archana Dehankar, under whose ward Gandhisagar lake falls, told TOI that officials had not started any work with funds received from the government.
“Work of both the lakes has been given to one contractor. I am following it up consistently but nothing is happening. Municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal should pay heed to this,” she said.
Dehankar further said, “I made additional provision of Rs 60 lakh in the last two budgets for developmental works at Gandhisagar lake. Due to follow ups, the civil works of around Rs 40 lakh have been started. I am struggling to get beautification of the lake done for last eight years. The officials are not at all interested,” she said.
“Grant of Rs 63 lakh has been received for Sonegaon lake and Rs 50 lakh for Gandhisagar lake. Rs 1.10 crore have been spent on Sonegaon lake and Rs 10 lakh on Gandhisagar lake. The utilisation certificate to obtain next instalment of Rs 50 lakh for Sonegaon lake will be submitted in coming days,” said an official.
While NMC did partially desilt Sonegaon, it did not complete any work at Gandhisagar. Construction of toilets has been started but is in initial stage. At Sonegaon too, only half the lake has been covered.