The 144-year-old Ramalingam Tank spread over 8.7 acres in the city has been facing neglect over last many years thanks to apathy of the State Government, the BMC and elected representatives. The tank has lost its aesthetic surroundings and ambience. Barring one side, the remaining three sides of the tank have no seating provision for the visitors and the collapse of compound walls has posed a threat.
Sources said in 2011, the Irrigation Department had prepared a detailed project report to develop the tank as an amusement park at a cost of Rs 5.75 crore. As per the proposal, a 10-foot-wide and 690-metre-long walkway was to be built around the tank with provision of a children’s park, a garden, pedal boating facilities, a fountain and attractive lightning in and around the tank were also conceptualised. The district administration then had reportedly discussed the issue with the Assistant Endowment Commissioner.
However, work could not progress as planned at that time as the legal heirs of the tank made the BMC and the Endowment Commission enter into a legal battle.
In 2014, a five-member technical team consisting of representatives of the BMC, PHED, BDA, PWD and the Minor Irrigation Department inspected the tank. “We have studied the south and west embankments of the tank which are in a precarious condition and may breach at anytime. We have jointly demarcated the spots which need urgent repair and have also decided about the nature of construction,” a member of the technical committee then had cautioned. The committee had submitted its report to the then BMC Commissioner Ajit Kumar Mishra who reportedly handed it over to the district Collector for final decision. Though the tank is a private property and was involved in a legal battle for many years, the trustee for the development of the tank has reportedly allowed the BMC to renovate it in public interest. The trustee has also inked an agreement with the civic body for this purpose, sources said. The district Collector had reportedly asked the Endowment Commissioner to talk to the trustee members for an amicable settlement of the legal fight to facilitate renovation of the tank and convert it into an entertainment park. But, the purpose of such an exercise became futile, as the renovation work of the tank came to a halt.
Significantly, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his visit to Brahmapur and after realizing the significance of the renovation and beautification work of this tank, had intervened in the matter and resolved the issue in 2016 and sanctioned a grant of Rs 8 crore after which the public of silk city were quite hopeful of its early renovation and beautification, but in vain. After sanction of grant by the Chief Minister, the BMC reportedly prepared a blue print for its renovation and beautification with the provision of sitting benches all sides, plantation of decorative and flower trees, provision of adequate lighting and water boat to make the tank more attractive and aesthetic and the BMC initiated the work. However, this dream of BMC soon became a myth and got shattered.
According to information available, the work of beautification and renovation was given to a contracting firm who reportedly left the work right from the beginning and disappeared for the reasons known to him. Again in 2017 the BMC called for fresh tender and entrusted the renovation and beautification work as per the plan to another contractor who too reportedly left the place after second day of the work. Unconfirmed sources, however, suggest that, the second contractor is reportedly “Panda Infra” firm.
If one firm or contractor is blacklisted, why can’t the BMC cancel the order and settle the account and take expeditious process to entrust the work to the next bidder, asked a senior citizen.
Though twice the same renovation work has been initiated, it seems both the local MlA and MP are not taking any interest and sincere effort to carry forward the work. There is a public perception that in case the contractor has left the work, the work can be assigned through fresh tender to any one of the local builder/developer having reputation in public.