Ambazari Lake Overflow Wall Restrictions Under Scrutiny in High Court
Nagpur, India- The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the petitioner's counsel to submit comparative data on the conditions before and after the construction of the monument near Ambazari Lake, using all original documents. The Court also advised that officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) assist the petitioner in gathering this information.
The hearing, conducted on Thursday before Justice Nitin Sambare and Justice Abhay Mantri, has scheduled the next session for August 19. The High Court has instructed the Irrigation Department to file an affidavit by the next hearing date, detailing the spillway's carrying capacity from the overflow point of Ambazari Lake. The petitioner's lawyers are also required to review reports from all respondents and submit their findings by August 9. Additionally, the Court has requested the minutes from a meeting held by the Divisional Commissioner and an affidavit from the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD).
The Court has emphasized the need for accurate data to decide on the potential relocation of the monument. Consequently, it has taken custody of all original documents related to the monument’s construction from the NMC and NIT, instructing the petitioner to provide comparative information based on these documents.
During the afternoon session, the NMC and NIT presented the original documents related to the memorial’s construction. While these departments had previously submitted affidavits, the Court now seeks detailed explanations alongside the technical data. The Court’s inquiries include water discharge capacity before the monument’s construction and the canal's width.
Following flooding in September 2023 that damaged properties near Ambazari Lake, residents filed a Public Interest Litigation. Advocates Tushar Mandlekar represented the petitioners, Adv. Anish Kathane and Adv. Girish Kunte represented NIT, and GP Devendra Chavan represented the State.
Court Orders Bridge Progress Inspection
GP Devendra Chavan reported that the Ambazari Bridge construction is progressing quickly. The Court has directed GP Chavan to inspect the work and report back. The Public Works Department has also been instructed to ensure the quality and expedite the completion of the work.
Details on Overflow Wall
The overflow wall of Ambazari Lake extends approximately 140 meters. Due to the construction of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, there is only a 12-meter gap on either side for water discharge. Advocate Mandlekar presented this detail to the Court, which then requested historical data. The Irrigation Department has indicated that it only has records from 2019, with no data available from before the statue’s construction.
