Nagpur: With Ambazari lake’s water level just inches below the overflow point, Saturday’s moderate rains and weather department forecast of more rain in the next 24 hours added to the anxiety of residents living in the vicinity. This has caused the water level of Ambazari lake to rise significantly.
On Saturday, despite the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) efforts to dewater 15.4sqkm Ambazari dam, civic staff operating two of the four 47 HP pumps near its spillway point, said the water level has not yet receded and “is almost to the brim”.“Whether it rains or not, the lake is bound to overflow tonight or by Sunday,” one of the workers said and added that water from numerous nullahs was being released in the lake’s west catchment area.
“For safety reasons, water is being pumped out of the dam and released into the Nag River, following instructions from municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari,” said superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee. After last September’s flash floods, the irrigation department reduced height of lake’s spillway wall for safety reasons, bringing overflow level to 316.24 meters.
Due to Saturday’s rain, the water level in the lake reached 316.20 meters. NMC has installed four pumps, with water being released through two of these pumps and an additional 150mm diameter pipe.
During a site visit, TOI found state PWD labourers were absent at the bridge construction site. Obstructions in the still basin and riverbed have not been removed, and the ramp for unloading construction material remains as it is.
Local residents, fearing a repeat of last year’s catastrophic flash flood, criticized the NMC for not clearing the obstructions.
“Water is being pumped out into the spillway, which only delays the official overflow. The pumped water is going into the overflow channel anyway. This might lead to water clogging in the bridge construction site, and in the process flood the roads again,” they feared. “The insufficient passage for water flow from the bridge to the Nag River could divert water onto the road once the dug-out area is filled,” they observed. Residents suggested that the outlet pipe should deliver water directly into the nallahs or river instead of pouring it into the spillway.
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