Nagpur: The first phase of the Ambazari Dam fortification project will soon be over. According to sources, the Irrigation Department here confirmed that the first phase, which involved addition of soil to buttress the dam followed by stone pitching, will conclude soon.
The authorities have started dumping soil on the bund which has resulted in consternation among nature lovers with some going as far as to question whether a ‘chowpatty’ was sought to be constructed on the dam walls.
The bund was damaged in the September 23 flash floods and had caused severe damage to the city The front side of the dam, behind the Swami Vivekananda statue, had breached due to overflow of water. The State Government had subsequently decided that the repair work would be carried out by both the irrigation department as well as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
The Irrigation Department was tasked with designing and strengthening the dam structure while the NMC was to install the automatic floodgates on the reservoir. According to the NMC sources, the designing of the floodgates was in progress and after getting approvals, they will be installed. The installation is in the second phase they said.
The ongoing efforts to strengthen Ambazari Lake are on track for completion by August 7, according to a recent update provided by the Executive Engineer – Irrigation Department, Nagpur. An affidavit in this regard was submitted in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently.
The urgency in fortifying Ambazari Lake stems from the adverse events of September2023 when heavy rains led to water seepage into various nearby settlements and caused financial losses to the residents. In response to the concerns raised by the citizens and the incident in September last year, the State Urban Development Department has taken proactive steps. A high-level committee, chaired by a senior official, has been formed to ensure the safety of Ambazari Dam, streamline the Nag River, and address encroachments along its banks.
