Splash In Vintage Ambazari: Sport & Canoe Again | Nagpur News

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Nagpur Mayor Nita Thackeray perform a water ritual and take a boat ride on Ambazari Lake in Nagpur as the lake restoration work to remove water hyacinth progresses. Municipal officials and elected representatives are seen accompanying them during the visit. Pic by Aniruddhasingh Dinore

Nagpur: With the marathon exercise to free Ambazari Lake of water hyacinth yielding positive results, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is now looking to revive its recreational potential by introducing watersports and reopening the adjoining garden.Mayor Neeta Thakre said the civic body would seek permission from the state govt to start watersports at the lake and redevelop Ambazari Garden. The proposal will be placed before chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is scheduled to visit the lake on Thursday morning.Thakre said NMC aims to develop the lakefront as a major recreational destination for Nagpur residents while addressing environmental concerns surrounding the waterbody.The move comes against the backdrop of NMC’s efforts to reclaim 42.42 acres (171,682.698 sq m) of govt land at Mouza Ambazari that had been handed over to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for a tourism project. The project failed to progress within the stipulated period and has remained stalled following legal challenges by citizens and Ambazari Conservation Committee.Efforts are also under way to reopen Ambazari Garden, which has remained closed since 2019. Officials said the area was once among the city’s most popular leisure destinations. Since 1999, the garden and lakefront reportedly attracted four to five lakh visitors annually when boating services were operated by a private agency.NMC recently succeeded in removing large quantities of water hyacinth from the lake after years of effort. However, officials continue to face a major challenge as untreated sewage still enters the waterbody from upstream areas, with the sewage treatment plant at Wadi Municipal Council yet to become operational.Sources said sewage inflow from the Wadi and Hingna sides is one of the key reasons for recurring hyacinth growth and deteriorating water quality.NMC officials said reopening the garden and introducing controlled watersports would require a comprehensive plan covering water quality, environmental safeguards, public access and infrastructure.The civic body now hopes the chief minister’s visit will provide the necessary push to both reclaim the land and revive Ambazari as a major recreational and tourism destination.