MAHAMETRO has taken over the long-defunct Futala Lake musical fountain project from the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and initiated restoration work, with the total expenditure now expected to exceed Rs 10 crore. The revival effort has drawn public scrutiny, especially after a fresh order for replacement cables worth Rs 3 crore was placed, adding to earlier costs for components that deteriorated during years of non-operation.
Citizens are questioning the rationale behind such heavy expenditure. “Why should the public exchequer bear the cost for no fault of ours?” many Nagpurians ask. People also noted that they were not consulted when the project was first conceived. Legal challenges had stalled the initiative, and now taxpayers’ money is being used once again to revive it, raising doubts about the project’s feasibility and planning.
The fountain, originally conceived by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, had shut down before its inauguration in May 2023 after algae damaged the underwater cable network. A subsequent study confirmed that corrosion caused by microorganisms was the primary issue. Replacement cables, initially procured at Rs 3 crore, remained unused and degraded due to prolonged disuse and heat exposure. As a result, another round of procurement from Daman became necessary, following a technical audit by a French team that identified extensive system damage.
Restoration and Maintenance Efforts
MAHAMETRO has begun procuring pump components and undertaking cleaning, repainting, and infrastructure repairs. Officials stated that ozonisation of the lake water and continuous fountain operation would be implemented to prevent further biological damage. However, the additional cable expenditure has raised questions regarding asset management and losses arising from project delays, as public funds continue to be committed to a project that has been non-functional for over two years.
The revival effort also intersects with ongoing environmental concerns. Untreated sewage continues to flow into Futala Lake, an issue currently before the Western Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Discussions between NIT and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are underway regarding the establishment of a sewage treatment plant (STP). Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) have inspected the system, and a French technical team is expected to visit later this month to oversee the repair process. However, the STP installation will take time, raising the question of responsibility if the cables suffer further damage in the interim.
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