NMC removes 2.80L cubic metre silt from Gandhisagar, funds crunch stalls work

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) claims to have removed 2,80,000 cubic metre silt and completed desilting of Gandhisagar. But the rejuvenation work was stopped midway due to shortage of funds.
“NMC’s private contractor dug up almost 1.5 metre of the lake for rejuvenation. Desilting of the lake will stop growth of algae, hence improving its ecological system,” said a senior official from NMC’s lakes and rivers department.
The desilting of Gandhisagar – spread over 44 acre – started in February this year. The contractor drained out water from the lake twice.
The state government had sanctioned Rs12 crore for the project, while NMC provided Rs2.90 crore as its share. In his 2022-23 budget, municipal commissioner and administrator Radhakrishnan B had allocated Rs5 crore for the project. Of the sanctioned amount, NMC has so far spent Rs2.90 crore. Now, Dhantoli zone, which is monitoring the work, has submitted a requisition to release remaining Rs2.10 crore for incomplete works.
Sources, however, said NMC has spent Rs14 crore so far and now they have approached Maharashtra government seeking Rs36 crore for beautification of the lake.
Earlier, NMC had estimated the cost of rejuvenation and beautification of Gandhisagar project at Rs32 crore. However, after draining the lake, the contractor damaged the boundary and retaining wall, which increased the project cost by almost Rs10 crore.
Apart from desilting, works like construction of retaining wall on west side of the lake alongside Khau Galli has been completed. Similarly, the decorative part on the east and north side too has been done. Even work on the retaining wall of Pagey Garden is complete, said the official.
The construction of piers for a bridge connecting Pagey Garden with the road on the north side of the lake is incomplete. “The works have been stopped midway due to lack of funds,” said an official from Dhantoli zone. The zone has now sought Rs2.10 crore from the public works department to complete the work.
Environmental activists expressed anguish over NMC’s move to undertake works without proper planning. “Asking for more funds in the midst of rejuvenation work at Gandhisagar shows poor planning,” said founder of NGO Green Vigil Foundation Kaustav Chatterjee.
“Desilting is complete and now if the work stops for long for want of additional funds, considering the ongoing rainy season, a significant amount of work already done might need to be redone, which will add to the expenses,” he said.
Further, the project will also get delayed, which will also have a direct impact on the ground water table of surrounding areas. Though in case of big projects, some unforeseen expenditure might crop up during the execution stage, which may inflate the budget, for a project like Gandhisagar rejuvenation the DPR should have been prepared with proper study and after considering all possible present and projected expenditures, he said.
REJUVENATION OF GANDHISAGAR
Renovation of Pagey Garden
Development of three-storey auditorium in place of Bal Bhavan
Mini sewage treatment plant
Construction of pavement alongside lake
Arches on all sides
Musical fountain with laser show