Mayor declines comment on CEPT- prepared report
BHOPAL: Centre for environmental planning and technology university ( CEPT) Ahmedabad, which was assigned to prepare a separate master plan for Upper Lake conservation rather than City Master Plan, has tabled its report before the empowered committee headed by Mayor Krishna Gaur on Saturday.
The master plan covers all the aspects related with the conservation and protection of Bhojtal including environmental improvement, water supply and improvement in quality of water, sewerage, agriculture, forest conservation and land use etc.
Earlier, after the state government had decided to have a comprehensive study and a separate master- plan for the conservation and development of the Upper Lake, BMC short- listed three companies– CEPT Ahmedabad, DPC Ahmedabad and IBI Gurgaon- and finally CEPT, Ahmedabad was okayed. According to BMC administration, master plan for Upper Lake ( Bhojtal) should be chalked out as per citizens’ expectations and requirements of city.
Earlier, VIP Road was constructed after relocating 4,500 shanties for freeing the lake from pollution under Bhoj Wetland Project. Upper Lake, which is spread over 31 square kilometers area is the biggest city lake in India. Suggestions from people and experts, keeping in view environmental aspects, cultural heritage, water management, socio- economic development of people and organic augmentation are supposed to be incorporated in master plan.
Mayor Krishna Gaur said, ” It was the meeting of empowered committee. CEPT executives presented its report about Upper Lake conservation. We have distributed the copies of report to members of empowered committee. Now they will give their views on the report.” However, she did not make any comment on the content of the report.