Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the petitioner’s counsel to present detailed information in a tabular format on the water flow from the Ambazari Dam spillway to the tail channel, comparing conditions before and after the construction of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial.
This directive was issued by a division bench after petitioner’s counsel, Tushar Mandlekar, described how the water flow width through the spillway and tail channel was reduced following the construction of the memorial, which consists of a statue.
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Mandlekar argued that this change led to floodwaters entering nearby areas on September 23 of the previous year. He explained that before the memorial was built, the water flowed unobstructed. However, since the statue’s erection in 2017, the water flow has been divided into two channels before joining the river. The left channel has a width of 6.26 metres, which narrows to 5.22 metres. The right channel starts at 7.97 metres and expands to 8.05 metres.
The High Court adjourned the hearing until August 16 and directed the Irrigation Department to provide technical assistance to Mandlekar in drafting the chart, which must be submitted by August 9.
Concerns over bridge construction delays
Additionally, the judges expressed concern over delays in the construction of a new bridge, which has caused significant difficulties for motorists. They directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to expedite the project. The PWD had initially promised to open one-way traffic on the new bridge by August 16 but later postponed it to August 30. The court emphasized the importance of completing the work promptly without compromising quality, noting that the alternative routes are narrow and inadequate.
Government Pleader Deven Chauhan informed the court that two-wheeler traffic had been temporarily allowed from VNIT for two hours in the morning and evening, with police support.
The High Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ramgopal Bachuka, which highlighted the severe impact of recurring disasters in the city. The September 2023 flash floods in the Nag River were particularly devastating, causing significant property damage and loss of life.
