Nagpur: For the third consecutive year, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is facing the prospect of draining Sonegaon Lake after failing to complete the beautification works within the nine-month deadline, which expired months ago. The state government had approved the project six years ago, but not a single work has been fully completed thus far.
According to NMC engineers, water will not be released from the lake for the remaining works. They are making efforts to complete the works before the lake fills up with water, as it usually does during the monsoon season, which is expected to arrive in Nagpur in the second week of June. However, due to unseasonal rains this year, water has already filled the pits in the lake.
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Given the slow pace of work, it appears unlikely that NMC, through its private contractor SS Patil & Co, will be able to complete the project in the coming months. The construction of the walking track over the lake’s north side has yet to begin, and water remains present in that area throughout the year. The pillars supporting the walking track would stand in water, posing a challenge to its construction.
A cement concrete retaining wall has been constructed on the south, west, and some parts of the north side. Work has started on the stone cladding along the retaining wall from the north side. However, at least a couple of months are required to complete this work, which necessitates draining out the water. The southeast side of the lake also contains water throughout the year.
Uniform desilting work, which also requires draining out water from the lake, has not been carried out. The government had sanctioned the project at a cost of Rs 18.20 crore on July 9, 2017. After a delay of four years, NMC engaged the contractor on June 15, 2021, with a deadline of 15 months. Over the past two years, the entire lake spread over 16.42 hectares was emptied, reportedly impacting the groundwater table, greenery, birds (including migratory species), and cattle in the area.
Work on the walking track along the north, west, and south sides is ongoing, but the garden and restaurant works have not even reached the halfway mark. Various beautification works, including two entrance gates on the east side, two parking areas, pergolas, sitting arenas, greenery, and toilets, are yet to begin.
Despite the delays, NMC has reportedly not taken any action against the private contractor. NMC engineers cited reasons such as the pandemic and changes in the scope of work for granting extensions to the contractor, which further contributed to project delays.
