Water Conservation Department refuses NOC for metro’s construction work near Ambazari lake

Advertisement

Ambazari Metro
Nagpur: Water Conservation Department has rejected the demand to relax the rules for Metro Rail Project’s construction work near the side of Ambazari lake. Nagpur Municipal Corporation had written a letter regarding relaxing the rules but in a reply to Municipal Commissioner on 31 Jan, 2018, the Secretary of Water Conservation Department made it clear that a No objection Certificate (NOC) cannot be issued for this work. The work of technical inspection of lake’s security reasons is with DSO (Dam Safety Organisation) and so the decision regarding this lies with it. Earlier, too the Water Conservation Department under the RTI on 12 May, 2017 in a letter had informed that it does not have the authority to change the 2 Aug, 2013 GR of State Government regarding the security of lake. The department has made it clear that the lake is a fief of Municipal Corporation and it can take decision as per its wishes.

The Metro line is going from the side of Ambazari lake and maximum work has been done but the DSO has raised a objection over it. According to the DSO the boundary wall of the lake is of mud and so keeping a watch on the security would be a sensitive issue. In its study DSO has stated that the work near the lake is not safe The rule of DSO says that no construction work can be done within the 200 meters of the lake. Under this rule DSO has already rejected the application for granting NOC for metro work.

The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself had raised the issue of making efforts for relaxing rules for the construction work of metro from point of safety, in the house. From the letter of 31 Jan of Water Conservation Department it is clear that there is no change in the rule.