Powerless: MPCB helpless in taking action against WMC for releasing sewage in Ambazari Lake
   Date :08-May-2024

Ambazari Lake 
 
 
 
By Kaushik Bhattacharya
 
 
 
Degrading water quality of iconic Ambazari Lake is an example of sheer apathy, ignorance, and poor management by the administration which is causing slow death of the lake. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), which is the regulatory authority for pollution control in the State, normally takes quick action against industries which release any kind of effluent in water bodies in and around Nagpur city. However, in the case of Ambazari Lake, the Board cannot take any action against Wadi Municipal Council (WMC) which is continuously releasing sewage through a nullah in Ambazari Lake for years. The reason, it says, is that the matter sub-judice. From last more than one year, Ambazari Lake is witnessing flooding of Eichhornia weeds, which is happening due to intrusion of sewage into the water body. “Along with Wadi Municipal Council and MIDC, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are equally responsible for degradation of Ambazari Lake,” claimed Hema Deshpande, Regional Officer, MPCB.
 
“Residents of Kachimet area are releasing sewage in Ambazari Lake which also a matter of concern for us. NMC should take action against this and stop the intrusion of sewage from their jurisdiction,” said Deshpande. Whereas Dr Shweta Banerjee, Executive Engineer, Environment Department, NMC denied the allegation made by MPCB. “There is no intrusion of sewage from NMC’s jurisdiction in Ambazari Lake. We have enquired about any malpractice going on in the lake and we found that sewage is entering through Wadi side,” said Dr Banerjee. While asked about the action taken on WMC, the Regional Officer of MPCB said, “The matter is under trial and we have not taken action against WMC yet.”
 
WMC is constructing a 10 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) at Ambedkar Nagar in Wadi area, near Amravati Road to restrict the direct release of sewage into Ambazari Lake. The work started in January this year and it will take one more year to complete. Till then, the intrusion of sewage from Wadi area will continue in the lake and MPCB is saying that it is helpless in this regard as the matter is under trial. Last year on September 23, Nagpur witnessed severe flood in Naag river due to overflowing of excess water from Ambazari Lake in the river. There were many factors involved behind the disaster and Eichhornia weeds in the Lake is also a major reason. After every bout of heavy rains in city, the residents of Ambazari Layout, Shankar Nagar and nearby localities situated on both sides of Naag river get paniced as they remember that dreadful flood. However, the authorities concerned are quick to pass the buck. The flooding of Eichhornia weeds is still going on and NMC is removing it on daily basis instead of taking action against the main culprits who are responsible for it.