Ambazari lake overflows

 

 

Finally, on Sunday early morning, the Ambazari Lake overflowed as incessant rains lashed the city the previous night. The city is receiving bumper rains for last about a fortnight. Continuous rains resulted in water flowing out from the portion of dam wall that was cut on the western side of the lake, instead of the main dam behind the statue of Swami Vivekanand. Though Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials tried to stave off the overflow by pumping out the water, the inflow from various ends finally led to today’s eventuality. Water from the lake was continuously being pumped out since last one month by NMC to enable correction works at Ambazari overflow end. Construction of a new bridge on Ambazari Road is on, and also the process to install radial gates at the dam is being undertaken for which the water was being pumped out.

 

On Saturday, the water level at the lake was at 316.20 M against cut wall’s overflow level 316.24 M. However, the overnight rains washed away the efforts to prevent the overflow. Every year, the overflow of Ambazari Lake is a much anticipated event and Nagpurians eagerly wait for it. The overflow normally occurs in August, but this year, the heavy rains in the month of July itself filled the lake to the brim. However, this year the overflow from Ambazari Lake is going to be watched with concern by the citizens in residential localities on the banks of Naag Nadi as they are terrified of its effects, especially in view of last year’s floods.

 

This year, the NMC has been fully prepared and along with other agencies have deepened, widened the river to increase the intake capacity of the river. This would ensure that the flowing water does not breach the lake bank as there is enough width and depth available to accommodate the extra flow. The water flow over the cut-off portion of bridge started at around noon and continued for a few hours. By evening, after the water pumps of Fire Brigade started again, the water level got reduced. However, the incessant rains have impacted the ongoing construction of bridge at Ambazari overflow point. Public Works Department (PWD) is entrusted the task of construction of the bridge that would be having higher reach than previous one to enable quick movement of overflowing water. Due to ongoing construction, the stretch from Subhash Nagar T-point to Ambazari T-point is closed for road traffic. Due to this there is spillover on South Ambazari Road causing traffic snarls on Subhash Nagar T-point to Mate Square stretch during peak morning and evening hours.