Nagpur: Delaying by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in depositing RS3 Crore with the Department of State Government and failure to provide a clear space near the overflow point has extended the work of Lake Ambazari embankment.
Leaks have begun in many places along the embankment of 1,070 meters from the water body close to 149 years.
Ummankment consists of 930 ground meters and 140 meters of cement concrete parts at the Spillover point.
The point of land abundance is stable but the water has begun to leak from several cement concrete parts.
“Even though there is a little damaged dam chance, the cracks in the cement may still cause danger,” said the executive engineer (EE), Irrigation Department, Rajesh Dhumne.
Dhumne shows that despite repeated reminders to the lake and NMC river, there is no initiative taken to limit the work area.
“Even the walls of the newly built meeting between spillover and the lake bridge over the Nag River also caused obstacles,” he said.
Furthermore EE said that NMC had deposited RS3 Crore in March this year.
“Spike in Covid’s case in March, April and May this year also contributed to the delay in inviting tenders for the work,” he said.
He said that the irrigation department has now issued work orders.
But because of delays, job priorities will change.
As per the previous plan, the department should take the work strengthen the spillover section first.
Dhumne said that because Monsoon had arrived and with the lake filled with a capacity of almost 100%, other works would be taken first while the portion of spillover would be borne after October.
After the pill filed by activists Mohammed Shahid Sharif and the direction of the High Court in 2018, the Lake and the NMC River have approached the irrigation department for the work.
Pravin Mahajan activist, which has submitted a petition before the Supervisory Authority of Maharashtra Water Research, expressed concern for work that did not begin even because the HC deadline was abundant.
TI previously reported that the platform at the Spillover and the southwestern part was in a sad condition.
“The crack can be easily seen and the condition deteriorates every day,” Mahajan said in a press communigation.
NMC Superintendent Engineers, Water Works, Shweta Banerjee, who are also responsible for the lake and the Rivers Department, did not respond to TOI calls.
Chairman of the Works Works Committee Sandeep Gavai said that NMC was positive about completing work and would extend cooperation with the irrigation department.