Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a call for cleaning of lakes in cities. With water level constantly depleting, the cities have to either create new water resources or maintain the existing ones like lakes. Unfortunately, over the years Nagpur can be called as loser as far as lakes are concerned. Against that backdrop, ‘The Hitavada’ talked to existing Mayor and five former Mayors as to what they have done to preserve the lakes in the city? Vikas Thakre, now MLA was Mayor of Nagpur during 2002-2005. He admitted that he did not do anything concrete regarding lakes. Why? “I could not do much about lakes as just before my tenure began, during the regime of Pushpa Ghode, a scam came to the fore involving sports material purchase.

 

One Nandlal Committee was constituted for the investigation. During Ghode’s Mayorship, a work was allotted to some agency to desilt Gandhisagar lake. It was not done properly and the irregularities in fund utilisation was found. This part too was included in the Nandlal Committee investigation. Since the enquiry was underway, I focussed on ghat beautification. We tried to create either new ghats or bring improvement in the existing ones,” said Thakre. Thakre further pointed out, “For the last 6-7 years, Kamlesh Chaudhari is running a lawn right on the bank of Futala lake. In fact he has encroached lake. Administration is not paying attention. Like in Mumbai for a particular road, part of sea is being encroached, same thing is taking place at Futala. If this continues then we may lose this good lake. We have already lost major lakes in Napgur city. Losing lakes is not good for all of us.” Prof Anil Sole, who remained Mayor between 2012 and 2014, has something different to say. “Some funds were released during my regime for the cleaning of Lendi lake, Gandhisagar lake.

 

 

 

To maintain the lakes, money is needed. Support from Government is very important. During my tenure, there was Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Government that always troubled us as far as money is concerned. We have taken several proposals. We did cleaning of Sakkardara, Sonegaon, Naik Talao. But process of rejuvenation is altogether different. You have to block sewage lines, water has to be thrown out, lake has to be kept dry for sometime then it receives water from the first rain. Lake rejuvenation goes through this process. At the same time, this is not the work to be done by authorities or civic body alone. The will of the House and the will of the city both are needed. We have witnessed several times, lake was cleaned and people kept dumping the garbage. This is not good. People too should treat the lake as their own property,” explained Anil Sole, former MLC who was Mayor from 2012 to 2014. Pravin Datke, now MLC was Mayor between 2014 and 2016 had prepared a proposal regarding cleaning of all lakes. He had listed the lakes namely Futala, Gandhisagar, Bangladesh Punarvasan, Lendi lake. Funds were also released for the same.

 

 

But somehow the work could not be completed due to red-tapism, Datke claims. Nanda Jichkar who got maximum term of two and a half years has no specific to say about lake cleaning or rejuvenation. She said that administration had done some works as she expressed her wish that lake should be maintained in a proper manner. But she never monitored them or checked. In fact, she did not have details about the same, admitted Jichkar. Before becoming Mayor, Sandip Joshi had volunteered the work of desilting Sonegaon lake. When he became Mayor in 2019, unfortunately he did not have much scope to do anything concrete due to COVID-19 pandemic. But Sandip Joshi had taken up Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes and the work orders of both were processed. Issue of Futala and Naik Talao rejuvenation too was discussed, but it did not get momentum, informed Joshi. Dayashankar Tiwari, the present Mayor said, “Tender process for Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes cleaning has been completed. We got Rs 59 crore for the same.

 

We will conduct bhoomipujan of cleaning and rejuvenation work of both these lakes soon. For Takli Lake, Union Minister Nitin Gadkri has given Rs 50 lakh. We will start work there also. Since Gandhisagar lake, comes under Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), I shall be requesting them to allot some funds so that work can be started.” “Lake cleaning is a very difficult process. Take example of Lendi talao. It has a lot of dirt over it and a growth of Pankanda is visible. If we have to clean the Lendi lake then we have to cut Pankanda completely, then clean the lake, it has to remain dry for sometime till the next rain comes. The first rain after the cleaning would fill up the lake. In the meantime, the co-operation from people too is important. Anyone of them dumping something in the dry part of lake would again hamper its growth,” elaborated Tiwari. From the talks of all the Mayors, it is crystal clear that efforts were surely taken and are being taken. But still the required result is not in sight. Most Mayors attributed it to Government’s apathy. Allotment of funds and its release too are equally important. Mayors feel public participation does not carry so much weight because money involved is very huge. Now, it remains to be seen whether the city would be able to preserve, the existing lakes or Nagpur would soon become city without lakes?