IIT Mumbai team inspects Futala Lake fountain project

Staff Reporter

A team of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai visited Futala Lake, on Thursday, to explore reasons behind

algae infection that hampered the operation of the musical fountain installed at the picturesque site. According to the sources, private contractor Khalatkar Construction Company (KCC) had invited the team from IIT Mumbai to inspect the fountain and find out a solution. The KCC is carrying out the work on the musical fountain. The project, the brainchild of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, is yet to be handed over to Nagpur Metro Region Development Authority (NMRDA) by the contractor. So far, only trials are conducted by the contractor. The actual handing over of the operation of the fountain show on regular basis to NMRDA will be finalised soon.

As per the information, the entire mesh of electrical wiring, pumps and other equipment laid underwater in the lake got covered with a layer of algae. This has hampered the operation of the musical fountain as it has become difficult to operate the mechanism. The project was built at a cost of Rs 75 crore, and it has been dubbed to be the world’s longest floating musical fountain. The last trial run of the fountain was done during the G-20 summit hosted by the city in March. Domestic sewage from neighbouring areas flows into the water body. The organic matter results in growth of the algae which is damaging electric wiring of the fountain. According to sources, there are more than 500 wires, and each one cannot be cleaned manually. A solution needs to be found and the matter has been reported to NMRDA, said the source.