The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has floated a tender worth Rs 83,070 for the removal of remaining aquatic weeds, locally known as "paankanda," from Naik Talao in Prabhag No. 20 under the Satranjipura zone. This marks the final phase of a month-long lake restoration drive spearheaded by Central Nagpur MLA Pravin Datke.
Transformation of the historic lake
Only weeks ago, the historic lake in central Nagpur was buried under dense layers of water hyacinth, floating garbage, and stagnant black water. Today, large stretches of open water have reappeared, significantly improving both the visual appeal and environmental health of the water body. Residents have noted a visible transformation, with cleaner water surfaces and a noticeable reduction in the foul stench that had plagued the area.
Community concerns and response
The cleanup operation was initiated after growing complaints from local residents about the foul smell, mosquito breeding, and worsening pollution. The invasive weed growth had nearly engulfed the entire lake surface, raising serious concerns about oxygen depletion and the threat to aquatic life. To address this, around 40 to 50 specialized laborers from Uttar Pradesh, many with experience cleaning stretches of the Ganga River, were brought in for the operation.
Using three to four boats and multiple heavy-duty nets, the teams worked continuously for nearly a month to remove water hyacinth, sludge, and floating waste. Several truckloads of weeds and garbage were extracted from the lake during the campaign. Additionally, the NMC successfully plugged 38 untreated sewerage lines that were directly discharging into the pond.
Final phase and future maintenance
The latest NMC tender is expected to focus on clearing the few remaining patches of aquatic weeds and residual waste along certain edges of the lake. Local residents believe that the civic body's involvement at this stage could help ensure sustained maintenance of the restored water body. Citizens have urged the NMC to introduce permanent safeguards, including preventing sewage inflow and carrying out periodic desilting and weed removal, to prevent Naik Talao from slipping back into neglect.
