Nagpur: Concerned over the growing spread of water hyacinth and the deteriorating condition of the historic Ambazari Lake, Mayor Neeta Thakre on Thursday morning conducted an inspection visit to the lake area and reviewed the ongoing cleaning operations being undertaken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
During the inspection, the Mayor expressed serious concern over water pollution and environmental damage being caused by the thick layer of water hyacinth covering large portions of the lake. She directed the civic administration to intensify the cleaning campaign by deploying additional machinery and manpower to ensure the lake is cleared before the onset of the monsoon.
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May 14- 2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
Mayor Thakre instructed officials to make all possible efforts to remove the invasive aquatic weed at the earliest, stressing the importance of preserving the ecological balance and historical significance of Ambazari Lake.
Deputy Mayor Leela Hatibed, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare and Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin Itankar were prominently present during the inspection tour.
The Mayor reviewed the progress of the ongoing hyacinth removal work and instructed the concerned departments to accelerate the operations. Officials informed that water hyacinth has already been cleared from nearly seven to eight acres of the lake area, while work on the remaining portions is underway.
At present, four Poclain machines, one JCB and three tippers are being used for the operation.
Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin Itankar directed officials to increase the number of Poclain machines from four to six in order to speed up the cleaning process. He also instructed the administration to ensure proper disposal and transportation of the removed water hyacinth from the lake site.
The Commissioner further stated that the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) project of the Wadi Municipal Council is expected to be completed this year, after which treated sewage water will flow into Ambazari Lake instead of untreated wastewater. He added that the civic body is also planning to procure a larger machine specifically for large-scale water hyacinth removal operations.
As an interim measure to prevent untreated sewage from entering the lake, the NMC has constructed a temporary earthen bund near the inflow point. Officials said this step is aimed at reducing the rapid spread of water hyacinth in the water body.
Local corporators Yogesh Pachpore, Vijay Hole and Varsha Chaudhary were also present during the inspection along with Superintendent Engineer Dr. Shweta Banerjee, Assistant Commissioner Rajkumar Meshram, Executive Engineers Rajesh Dufare and Manoj Gadre, Head of Solid Waste Management Department Dr. Gajendra Mahalle, Zonal Sanitation Officer Lokesh Wasnikar and other senior NMC officials.
