Activists blame Chaturvedi, NIT for Sonegaon going dry

Nagpur: Activists of Sonegaon Talav Bachao Samiti blamed former minister Satish Chaturvedi for having converted the nullah coming into Sonegaon lake into an underground storm water drain for constructing his two schools. They said this was a major reason behind the lake not getting water despite good rainfall. They also observed that Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) was also responsible as it undertook water drain replacement work during monsoon.
TOI on August 4 had highlighted Sonegaon lake was yet to be filled when other lakes in the city were full to brim. NMC officials including office in-charge for rivers and lakes Mohammed Israil and executive engineer Aniruddha Chauganjkar visited the lake on Saturday. On Monday, activists of Sonegaon Talav Bachao Samiti Gopal Thosar, Narayan Ahuja and TH Naidu visited the lake and also origin point of nullah that used to feed into it.
“It is unfortunate that half the lake is dry in July. Lake used to fill up in July and overflow in August. Wide nullah was a major source of water for the lake. It used to flow from hillocks and adjoining area from Shivangaon and join the lake after passing through Airport premises and Sonegaon residential area. It used to flow to the lake that too throughout the year. The green cover along the stream was a favourite roosting place for birds. We used to go along the stream and enjoy bird watching. Nullah was converted into underground stormwater drain in 2000. Then structures started coming up on the nullah and also in lake’s catchment area. Now we can see the result despite the rejuvenation work carried out at the lake by the NMC,” Thosar said.
Naidu alleged Chaturvedi got funds sanctioned for converting nullah into drain from Airport compound wall to the lake and constructed a school and college over it. “Later NIT regularized many structures over the nullah up to the lake boundary. A sump can be seen constructed at compound wall. Water is diverted into the drain from the sump. The drain gets choked due to mud and water does not reach the lake. A major portion of land is also fenced thus blocking water. Sump is situated inside the fenced area,” he alleged.
Chaturvedi did not respond to TOI calls and messages.
Ahuja said NIT undertook replacement work of storm water drain at wrong time. “NIT had laid the underground storm water drain in 2000. It now realized the mistake and is replacing it with a larger drain. NIT started the work from lake and reached upto road. New drain is connected with old one by constructing a sump adjacent to the road. New drain was laid after removing the old one. It means rain water did not reach the lake when new drain was laid in June and July. NIT should have taken up the work before or after the monsoon,” he said.
Israil said the mess had nothing to do with the lake’s rejuvenation project. “NMC constructed concrete nullah upto storm water drain end and desilted the lake in proper manner. Problem is with nullah and not the lake,” he said. Unfortunately, NIT had not laid the new drain upto the lake and left it around 50 metres short. Activists said demand will be raised with NMC, collector and NIT to restore the systems that brought water to the lake.