Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has directed the two administrative bodies,Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) to hold a dialogue and try to amicably resolve the issue of safety of Ambazari Lake and other water bodies. The meeting should be aimed at resolving the issue amicably or narrowing down the controversy, observed a division bench consisting of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Avinash Gharote. Both authorities have been asked to complete the exercise within two weeks and submit a report. The HC further sought details of steps taken by NMC to comply with March 21, 2018 directives to strengthen Ambazari dam. The High Court was hearing a petition filed by NMC questioning the very authority of the water regulatory body to entertain a complaint about safety of Ambazari dam and issuance of slew of directions to it while terming it usurpation of authority by MWRRA. The High Court, while prima facie agreeing with NMC’s contention about lack of jurisdiction by MWRRA and over-stepping, had stayed the order dated December 10.
Similarly the High Court had directed the NMC to place on record efforts taken by it since March 2018 to strengthen Ambazari dam as per directions passed in a PIL apprehending threat to structural stability of the dam due to Metro Rail construction. The MWRRA while entertaining application filed by water resources expert Pravin Mahajan, had ex-parte directed the NMC to form monitoring committee along with modalities and procedure and measures to be taken to strengthen Ambazari Lake which is an artificial water body created from out of a bund built across Nag River. The MWRRA had also directed VIDC, being a River Basin agency responsible for accounting the data management of water resources in consultation with NMC, to inspect all the lakes and water bodies in the city. Further it had directed to conduct inspection of the site and many other directions relating to taking of concrete measures for ensuring safety of the Ambazari dam.
