“I retired as an Assistant Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department after approximately 49 years of service, having initially joined through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. My first assignment was at Totladoh, overseeing the construction of a 75-meterlong dam and an underground power house,” shared Shrikant Doifode at the beginning of this conversation. ‘The Hitavada’ discussed water bodies in Nagpur, their conservation, and the implications of mismanagement, particularly in the context of recent events like the September 23 floods that the city witnessed. Reflecting on his experiences post Totladoh, Doifode explained, “I later moved to Nagpur Medium Project Division at Khekranala near Saoner, followed by a posting at the Kar river project near Karanja. Subsequently, I was promoted to Executive Engineer and served at the Pench Project and the Lower-Wardha project at Dhanori river. Later, I took on the responsibility of supervising inspections for minor irrigation projects in Nagpur.” With a wealth of experience, Doifode currently holds the position of President at Sinchan Sahyog Samiti, Nagpur.

 

Given his expertise, ‘The Hitavada’ turned to Doifode to gain insights into the recent flash floods in Nagpur and to understand whether mismanagement of water bodies contributed to the unfortunate events. When questioned about the persistent issue of waterlogging in our city, he explained that the extensive concretisation of roads over the past few years has left minimal space for water percolation. Even plots, which once had open spaces or gardens, now lack them, impeding water absorption. Consequently, rainwater rapidly flows without significant impediments. Regarding the management of water bodies to prevent flash flood-like situations, he highlighted that Nagpur relies on Pench Lake for water, while Ambazari Lake supplies to MIDC and Hingna.

 

However, he emphasised that Ambazari, functioning as a dam managed by the municipal corporation, lacks proper dam treatment, such as pre and postmonsoon inspections. He attributed this to its classification as a recreational spot rather than a dam. Adding to this, he criticised the corporation for allowing trees near Ambazari, creating seepage paths. He suggested replacing trees with stone pitching to act as obstructions. He emphasised the necessity for regulation by engineering and irrigation experts, expressing concerns about the mismanagement of drainage. When questioned about his stance on the allocation of funds by the Centre and State Government to reinforce the soil bund of Ambazari Lake following pressure from environmentalists, he stated, “In 2018, the Dam Safety Organisation of Maharashtra in Nashik recommended strengthening the dam and pitching of stones. Any steps taken by the Governments in that direction would be commendable When queried about the new project at Futala Lake and its potential impact on the water body, he expressed, “I believe developmental activities won’t affect the water body if conducted within prescribed guidelines. Water fountains shouldn’t pose issues unless there is oil seepage or exposure to harmful chemicals. If the project is indeed assigned to NEERI for water quality checks,Iam confident it will proceed smoothly.”