Large portions of retaining walls of Futala lake collapsed a few days ago. The breach is awaiting repair. The million dollar question is--Who will repair it? Nobody is owning the responsibility of the broken walls surrounding the historic and heritage Futala lake. Both these portions of the wall lie on the side of the road towards Vayusena Nagar. This spot full of kiosks, handcarts standing around which people gather and they take a round of the lake. This collapsed portion is posing a danger to people.

 

The light and sound show arrangement was constructed by Maha Metro, the fountain was erected by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). Some part of the lake belongs to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), some to Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (MAFSU), a major portion falls under Maharashtra Livestock Development Board. According to sources, this complete lake is in the name of Public Works Department (PWD). But not a single structure was constructed by it. Its maintenance was looked after by various agencies time to time. Every agency, disowning responsibility, says, the wall doesn’t belong to them so they are not supposed to repair it. Ansuya Kale Chhabrani, a committed environmentalist told ‘The Hitavada’, “We are seeking its structural audit from the Government agency.

 

This is a heritage site of the era of Bhonslas. We can’t tolerate such foolishness where Government agencies are saying the wall doesn’t belong to them.” A senior Heritage Committee member said, “We are not supposed to conduct any structural audit on our own. Some civic body, be it Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur Improvement Trust or anybody should either send a proposal or implement the same on their own.” ‘The Hitavada’ contacted NIT Chairman, officers concerned from NMC, PWD, PDKV, MAFSU, and officials of the above agencies said that the retaining wall does not belong to them. So, the wall will remain in a broken condition till some or the other agency comes forward and volunteers its repair.