Pandharabodi lake: Authorities fooled Court too
   Date :10-Jul-2019

 
By Vikas Vaidya:
 
Can one imagine, citizens used to do a lot of fishing in Pandharabodi lake? Now, more than 70% of the original lake area is encroached by the settlements. Pandharabodi lake lies exactly in between Futala lake and Ambazari lake. Original overflow is overtaken by the settlements hence even a small rise in the water level of the lake creates a problem for the neighbouring sports complex . The sports complex once was a part of the lake. The authorities ignoring even court orders have reduced the lake with a proper plan. Some builders breached the lake bund way back in 1987 and started developing a colony with the help of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). To their misfortune the water flown out of lake, broke the wall and filled the entire area. A boy became victim of this whole process.
 
Suddenly people around the area came out of deep slumber and knocked the doors of High Court. High Court gave status quo to the whole process. The builders sat idle for some time. Meanwhile, during the time of T Chandrashekhar, the then Municipal Commissioner and Chairman of NIT Nagpur witnessed roads constructed under Integrated Road Development Plan (IRDP). The debris of IRDP road constructions were dumped in Pandharabodi.
 
Thanks to T Chandrashekhar. Meanwhile, the case was going on in the Court and subsequently, Manukumar Shrivastava came in place of T Chandrashekhar. Some environment activists followed up the issue and they demanded to clean the debris out of the lake. High Court asked civic body to do the same and directed it to submit the affidavit. Manukumar Shrivastava submitted the affidavit that the lake could not be cleaned immediately as rainy season was underway. It would be done after rainy season was over. To everybody’s surprise, a tennis court came up on the lake and the one who inaugurated it was none other than Manukumar Shrivastava who himself had submitted affidavit in the High Court that the lake would be cleaned. The present Bajiprabhu Nagar once was Pandharabodi lake.
 
Historical intake well is now used to drain water from the lake. In this situation water can not be retained in the lake. This half cut dry lake is almost dead. There is no direct access to lake. Lake edge below the hill is flanked by slums so this edge has a lot of activity. Sewerage from these slums directly enters into the lake. To save this waterbody bund wall needs to be redesigned in Southern side of the lake. Like Sonegaon, the catchment area of Pandharabodi too was throttled by people and authority both. Desilting only helps to keep water in the pit. It is not a permanent solution. Lake should act as fluctuating biodiversity depends on it. The breeding of new lives take place on shallow water. Only pit can not resolve the issue.