Call it a blessing in disguise.
A road widening project, which usually is a nightmare for Ranchi residents, along the southern side of Bada Talab has spelt good news.
Ever since the state road construction department has started the widening work on the half-a-kilometre stretch of Lake Road, it has ceased to be a garbage dumping site for Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC). Besides, the stretch now also boasts streetlights.
Saba Naaz, councillor of ward No. 24 told The Telegraph, "We wanted RMC to take up beautification work of Ranchi Lake at the earliest because the garbage dumping site along Lake Road on the southern side of the lake was an eyesore. Thanks to the road widening work, the needful has been done, albeit temporarily."
The road widening work started on May 15 and on Tuesday the entire garbage site was covered with mud and soil that was dug up.
"Last month, we had invited mayor Asha Lakra to come and inspect the condition of the area. She was unable to even stand here due to the stink and filth. She had then directed to park a trailer and immediately stop dumping garbage. But, the trailer was never sent here. Now that the road widening project has cleared off the garbage, I will talk to the mayor and town commissioner about it," councillor Naaz added.
If deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijaywargiya is to be believed, efforts of the road construction department would not go waste.
"The widening work will take at least a month's time. Meanwhile, we will arrange a trailer so that garbage dumping does not start again. Besides, I have been told that the southern side of the lake does not have streetlights. So, I will give directions for electrification and installation of 10 LED lights. The city lanes will soon glow under LED lights," he added.
Speaking to The Telegraph about beautification of Ranchi Lake, he said, "The government has sanctioned Rs 4 crore for the same. Within the next six months, people will get to see the changes. The civic body has hired Tandon Associates to prepare a detailed project report for beautification. Now that the road widening work is underway, we will try to get the cleaning done simultaneously. Post beautification, Ranchi Lake will definitely attract tourists."
The 173-year-old waterbody started losing its sheen from the time the lake was open to the sewerage and garbage of Upper Bazar area. Garbage dumping in the south and drain release in the northern side has robbed the lake's beauty," said Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, a senior leader of JVM and a resident of Lake Road.
