Nagpur: With monsoon arriving in Nagpur, all the agencies tasked with minor works at Ambazari dam and Nag River have submitted their respective reports to Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari. All the agencies listed the completed tasks as identified during the survey post flash flood in Nag river basin last year.
The respective departments were given a deadline of wrapping up short term work before monsoon setting in the city. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Public Works Department (PWD), Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), Water Resources Department (WRD) filed their status reports.
Divisional Commissioner heads the High Power Committee (HPC) tasked with undertaking correctional measures on short and long term basis at Ambazari dam and thereafter at Nag River. The main aim of undertaking correctional measures was to mitigate any chances of repeat of last year’s floods that caused tremendous agony to citizens. The Divisional Commissioner on Friday chaired the meeting of HPC at the Commissionerate. The Members, officers of different departments presented reports of works carried out so far by them as per the given framework.
The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, Member Secretary, HPC; P K Pawar, Chief Engineer, WRD; Shweta Banerjee, Superintending Engineer, Public Health Engineering, NMC; Pradip Kulkarni and Deepali Motiyele, both Deputy Commissioners; along with officials of Maha Metro, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT ), Public Works Department (PWD), Disaster Management, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and others.
The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court had directed constitution of HPC and latter is reporting the updates about the correctional work to court from time to time. The works to be carried out at Ambazari dam and Nag river were identified by WRD whose officers undertook a detailed survey. This was in response to a PIL filed by citizens affected by flash floods in Nag river after heavy rain on September 23, 2023. Post monsoon heavy rains saw water flowing at full speed and due to narrow canal and lesser depth resulted in flash floods.
The works were divided in two categories and in the first step, the pitching was done by WRD with a view to strengthen the earthen dam. It was carried out on a 935 meters stretch. The WRD in its report mentioned that upstreaming and pitching work are nearing end and will be completed by the weekend. Similarly, the contractor of the Irrigation Department has cut a 12×1 portion at the dam’s overflow point for creating a buffer that is needed for installation of radial gates.
As to Maha Metro, it has completed demolition of eight bridges within Krazy Castle that would now ensure free flow of water from the overflow point and into Nag river. The deepening and widening works in the catchment of Nag river on this stretch were also completed as per the identified plan. Each of the agencies submitted photographs and maps to indicate the work done.
