Even as rainfall is affecting the pace of the works being done as part of Ambazari flood mitigation plan, the administrative agencies in the High-Powered Committee (HPC) appointed by the State Government has drawn up a timeline and claims to be sticking to it. As per the administration’s claims, the work order for Naag river widening, which is one of the major components of the plan, is likely to be issued by the end of this month. Since its constitution in January earlier this year, the HPC has held several meetings. Various agencies including Water Resources Department (WRD), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Maha Metro, Collectorate, and Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute (MERI) are working together to complete the studies and get different components of the works executed properly. For the purpose, the HPC has drawn a time-bound plan too. As per the details shared by the authorities concerned, the works have been broadly categorised into dam safety works, bridge construction, dewatering, installing escape gates, study of Naag river stretch passing through erstwhile Krazy Kastle area and widening, demolition of parking slab, river cleaning, encroachment removal, and study regarding shifting of Swami Vivekanand Memorial.

 

 

An important component of the entire plan is construction of high level bridge and approach roads on spill channel. As per the administration’s claims, 25 per cent of the said work was completed and one side of the bridge would be open to public by August 30. However, rainfall is affecting the pace of the work. Due to this, as highlighted by ‘The Hitavada’ previously, the agencies concerned may miss the deadline of August 30. The beautification work is yet to be started, since it can be done only after all other works are done.

 

After study of Naag river stretch passing through erstwhile Krazy Kastle area, desilting was done and all eight bridges within Krazy Kastle area were dismantled. The tender for execution of 1 km retaining wall along with widening of the Naag river-bed to 18 metres involving expenditure of Rs 19 crore was floated in June. The work order is expected to be issued by August end. The dam safety works are being executed by WRD. As per the administration’s claims, so far, construction of wing/retaining wall at right bank of Ambazari spill channel, construction of cut-off wall, energy dissipation arrangement, and protection apron on downstream of waste weir have been ‘already done’. As far as provision and construction of toe-drain on downstream of the dam, repairs, rectification and reconstruction of pitching on upstream and downstream of the dam, repairing the profile of the dam are concerned, the work order was issued in February 2024. The WRD had initially assured that the work on downstream side would be completed by June 30, and work on upstream side would be completed prior to monsoon. As of July 16, earthwork in all but 80 metres was completed as part of the work on upstream side, and the work on downstream side would now be completed by August 30. The dewatering of Ambazari lake was started on January 15. To increase the pace of dewatering, in April initially one and later two pumps were deployed for the purpose. By July 16 meeting, total dewatering done was 24,86,00,000 litres. Again, rainfall resulting in overflow in Ambazari iscreating hurdles in dewatering. However, no assessment with regard to the impact of the latest spells of rainfall on dewatering was available immediately. As far as escape gates are concerned, general layout of two such gates was submitted to MERI. Once the approval was received, the revised estimates would be submitted to NMC. The demolition of parking slab was entrusted to NIT, and it was completed by early March. River cleaning commenced in January, and as per the NMC claims, it has been ‘already done’. As per the NMC claims, the cleaned stretches included 16.58 km of Naag river, 17.42 km of Pili river, and 15.17 km of Pohra river. Along side, NMC claims to have removed 56 structures as part of its encroachment removal drive under Ambazari flood mitigation plan. 

 

Study regarding Swami Vivekanand Memorial to be completed by Jan 2025

 

The High-Powered Committee has roped in Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), which has ‘agreed’ to complete the study regarding shifting of Swami Vivekanand Memorial in seven months. Importantly, the issue of whether Swami Vivekanand Memorial constructed near the Ambazari overflow point was obstructing the flow of water from the lake had become a matter of hot debate after the floods in September 2023. There is demand from some quarters to shift the memorial with statue of Swami Vivekanand from its present location. However, sources said, some in the administration are not in favour of shifting it. The High-Powered Committee discussed the issue in its meetings, following which NMC officials contacted CWPRS. In accordance with the High Court’s orders, the study of the issue at hand was divided into two -- whether Swami Vivekanand Memorial will contribute to floods in future taking into consideration the proposed installation of escape gates along with reconstruction of bridge and widening of Naag river, and study of remaining stretch of Naag river. Subsequently, CWPRS team visited the city on May 21 and stated that the study would take nine months to complete. After NMC agreed to pay Rs 94.88 lakh to CWPRS, the latter agreed to complete the study in seven months. The study in progress may take at least January 2025 to complete.