Damage to steps during dredging of historic Banganga lake

During the process of desilting the historic Banganga Lake, the contractor damaged the stone steps using machinery. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a show-cause notice to the contractor for damaging the steps of the ponds by taking down the machinery when the work was supposed to be done with the help of manpower.

Also, a complaint has been lodged at the Malabar Hill Police Station for causing damage to the lake which is a historical heritage. 

Banganga is an ancient building. Over the years, due to various reasons, the steps of the lake, the stones of the steps, and the lamp posts had deteriorated. Also, there were constructions on the stairs in the lake area. 

Therefore, according to the meetings held at the level of the Maharashtra state government and also according to the directives of the state's skill development, entrepreneurship and innovation minister, local MLA and mumbai suburbs district guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the Banganga lake and area revitalization project has been undertaken through the BMC.

Declaring this project as a special priority project of the civic body, the Municipal Corporation conducted a tender process for it. At the end of the tender process, the contractor for the ancient heritage works (Heritage) was appointed.

Under this project, a manual system was initially set up to remove silt from the lake as per the terms of the contract. But the contractor landed the excavator plant at the northern entrance of Banganga Lake on June 24. As a result, the steps have been damaged. As soon as the information about this was received, the D department stopped the said work. In this case, a complaint has been lodged at the Malabar Hill Police Station for causing damage to the lake by issuing a show cause notice to the contractor on behalf of the Municipal Corporation.

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The process of restoring the steps was completed within a few hours. Meanwhile, local MLA, Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha inspected the site at Banganga Lake. At this time, he had directed to restore the stairs as soon as possible and blacklist the contractor. Accordingly, the works to repair the damaged steps were taken up immediately. Restoration of damaged steps and removed stones has been completed and restored.

A committee will be formed for the inquiry 

A local committee will also be formed to prevent any such incident from happening. This committee will monitor the work going forward. Guardian Minister Lodha informed that a committee of BMC officials will also be formed to investigate the entire incident and this committee will submit its report in the next 15 days.