Nagpur: The much awaited event in Nagpur finally occurred on Sunday, July 28. The early morning of the day saw Ambazari Lake overflowing due to incessant rains that lashed the city the previous night. The city has been receiving heavy rains for the last fortnight, contributing to this overflow.
The overflowing Ambazari Lake caused jitters among residents of the area downstream and along Nag River. Even though the overflow did not lead to any flood-like situation like last year, it affected the already delayed work of Ambazari Bridge.
The city has been receiving bumper rains for the last about a fortnight. Continuous rains resulted in water flowing out from the portion of the dam wall that was cut on the western side of the lake, instead of the main dam behind the statue of Swami Vivekananda.
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 Sunday’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 Nag River 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 the bridge started at around noon and continued for a few hours. By evening, after the water pumps of the Fire Brigade started again, the water level got reduced. However, the incessant rains have impacted the ongoing construction of a bridge at Ambazari overflow point.
The Public Works Department (PWD) is entrusted with the task of construction of the bridge that would be having higher reach than the 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.
The bridge needs to be completed and opened soon to reduce congestion on South Ambazari Road and in adjacent areas. PWD is likely to seek an extension from the traffic department for keeping the road from the overflow point to Ambazari T-Point closed.
The PWD has been facing several issues, including damage to power cables and lack of specialised labourers, ever since it started work for widening the bridge.
Meanwhile, NMC’s Fire and Emergency Services Department did not receive any major calls about houses being inundated or trees falling on Sunday. Residents of areas that were recently marooned and Ambazari residents heaved a sigh of relief after rains stopped in the evening.
