In the name of beautification and rejuvenation, the iconic Sonegaon Lake is being systematically eroded by the civic body by installing an iron peripheral walking track in the lake. The newly-installed iron bridge has been erected into the lake bed which is going to affect the aquatic life in the water body in near future. As per the sources, the iron-made bridge is covering the 1.6 km periphery of the lake which is a part of its Rs 18 crore beautification and rejuvenation project. The lake premises already has a walking track which is used by morning and evening walkers on daily basis. The new bridge has been constructed just because of the existing track is disconnected in some portion of the lake premises.

 

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has consistently mandated strict action against encroachments on water bodies, nullahs, and lakes in the city, ruling that unauthorised constructions and concrete slabs over natural streams cannot be regularised. Despite this order, the construction of a new bridge in a heritage site by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is a sheer negligence of the court order. As per the sources, the civic body is constructing this bridge in Sonegaon Lake after getting permission from the Heritage Committee. However, the iron pillars of the track is directly fitted into the lake-bed is going to be a future threat to the waterbody.

 

The non-functional state-of-the-art fountain in Futala lake is a perfect example of mindless encroachment of waterbodies in the city and the civic authority is repeating the same mistake in Sonegaon too. According to experts, the unsealed iron that flakes rust into a small lake can raise iron levels, which is toxic to some sensitive fish and plants in high amounts. Along with this, paint or chemical treatments used to stop the iron from rusting can leak into the water and poison aquatic life. Sonegaon lake is already a victim of sewage from the encroached residential area side and now this new encroached walking track in going to burden the aquatic life and the quality of water.

 

Along with this walking track, NMC has planned a nakshatra garden, pergolas, and other works for beautification of the lake premises which is spread over 16.42 hectare area. The beautification and rejuvenation of gardens and waterbodies in city are needed, but the administration should consider threats to the waterbody before constructing any structure in the lake-bed.