More Machines Added For Ambazari Lake’s Cleanup

Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation has ramped up efforts to remove water hyacinth from Ambazari Lake by deploying more machines and is in process of acquiring a 1.5 crore floating weed remover machine. The plan is to check the invasive plant's spread before monsoon.The machinery deployed included 4 Poclain machines, one JCB and three tippers. During an inspection on Thursday, mayor Neeta Thakre instructed officials to expedite the clean-up drive and deploy more machinery to prevent further pollution in the historic lake.Thakre, along with deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar reviewed the ongoing efforts. Officials reported that approximately 7 to 8 acres of the lake has been cleared of water hyacinth, with work on the remaining areas advancing quickly. Itankar ordered an increase in the number of Poclain machines from 4 to 6 to speed up the operation. He also instructed that the removed hyacinth be transported and scientifically disposed of at designated sites to prevent secondary pollution. The civic chief also added that the NMC plans to purchase a floating weed remover machine valued at 1.5 Crore, which is expected to enhance the lake-cleaning process in the future. Officials also said the sewage treatment plant being developed by Wadi Nagar Parishad is anticipated to be completed this year. Once operational, only treated sewage water will enter the lake, helping reduce contamination and control future hyacinth growth. To prevent the polluted water from flowing into the lake, NMC has now constructed a temporary earthen bund near Ambazari. Local corporators Yogesh Pachpor, Vijay Hole and Varsha Chaudhary, along with senior officials from the public health engineering and solid waste management departments, were present during the inspection.