Panel for re-locating Vivekananda’s statue for free flow of lake water
   Date :08-Feb-2024

Panel for re-locating Vivekananda’s statue 
 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
During hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) about Ambazari Lake, the Divisional Commissioner informed the High Court that a high-level committee had urged the NMC, Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, and the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute in Nashik to relocate the statue of Swami Vivekananda situated adjacent to Ambazari Lake for free flow of water. It is noteworthy that in its 2018 report, the Irrigation Department recommended various measures, including the relocation of Swami Vivekananda statue, ensuring free flow of water and elimination all other obstacles. The ongoing initiative to enhance and beautify the lake is progressing with an approved fund of Rs 21.07 crore for deepening of Nag river bed.
 
The Divisional Commissioner, in an affidavit presented before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, stated that the fund will be distributed in four phases for different essential tasks. The hearing took place before Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri. In previous hearing, the High Court had instructed a high-level committee to clear all encroachments along the Nag river. In compliance with this directive, encroachment removal is currently in progress. Given that Ambazari Lake discharges 400 cubic meters of water and carrying capacity of 60 cubic meters of Nag river, the high-level committee claimed that they are involved in the process for encroachment removal and deepening of the river bed.
 
According to the Divisional Commissioner’s affidavit, efforts to fortify and enhance Ambazari Lake have commenced. The Urban Development Department has established a high-level committee, led by senior officials, to oversee the safety of Ambazari Lake, streamline the Nag river and remove encroachments along its banks. Residents of the area including Ramgopal Bachuka, Jayashree Bansod, and Natthuji Tikkas, represented by Adv Tushar Mandlekar, filed the PIL. Adv Deepak Thakre represented the State Government.