Panipat’s Hali Lake, park turn out to be white elephant
The project for the revival of Hali Lake and park in Panipat have turned out be a white elephant. The park and the lake, situated in the heart of the city, were developed in the name of Panipat’s renowned Urdu poet and writer Altaf Hussain Hali around 35 years ago. The Department of Urban Local Bodies spent Rs 24 crore on its development. At present, both are an utter state of neglect drawing widespread public criticism and calls for a high-level probe into the matter. Residents say these are the best example of negligence of officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC).
When was the project for revival of Hali Lake and park announced?
Following city residents’ long-pending demand, Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister during his first visit to Panipat on December 20, 2014, announced revival of the Hali Lake and park and to develop it as a tourist spot of the city. Following his announcement, Director, Department of Urban Local Bodies, gave an approval for the project. He released an amount of Rs 23.69 crore to the Municipal Corporation for the project in December 2016.
When was tender allotted and to whom?
After getting final approval from the government, the Panipat Municipal Corporation prepared a detailed plan for revival of the lake and to re-develop the park. A tender of Rs 23.69 crore was allotted to a Delhi-based company in 2018 with the deadline to complete the project by March 2020. As per the detailed project report (DPR), there was a provision of an open-air theatre, jogging tracks, children’s swings, an open gym, memorial, yoga park, cafeteria, auditorium, sound system and CCTV surveillance for Hali Lake and park. Its purpose was to transform the lake and park into a recreational and cultural hub. A separate pipeline was laid to fill lake with water drawn from the Delhi parallel canal. The civil works of the project were completed after delay of two years.
What is the present condition of Hali Lake and park?
Today, the condition of lake and park is starkly different. Industrial effluents and sewage find way into lake, filling the air with a foul stench. Once-glorified infrastructure now lies in ruins. Broken walking tracks, abandoned and vandalised buildings, stolen fixtures and overgrown vegetation choking every structure from cafe to theatre greet visitors. The track in park is broken at various places. The park is in poor condition as there is no maintenance and shortage of gardeners. Even tiles in lake have started to break. The four-storey building of cafeteria and open air theatre are lying abandoned.
Why was water not filled in Hali Lake?
It was claimed in detailed project report (DPR) that the Hali Lake would be redeveloped and filled with water. The Municipal Corporation (MC) laid pipeline and even installed motors near lake to pump water in it. The MC pumped over 2.5 million litre water laden with sand in the lake spread on nine acres. Sources said there was no perfect proposal to fill lake with canal water. The Delhi-based company, which was awarded contract for the project, was paid full amount by the MC despite knowing that the work was not done properly.
What step MC will take to revive lake, park?
Dr Pankaj Yadav, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said a detailed report to revive Hali Lake and park was being prepared. Apart from it, tenders for repair works, deploying gardeners and security guards and installing lights were allotted, he said. The work would start within one month, he said. The lake would be filled with water soon, he said, while adding that all facilities would be provided to residents at lake and park.
Haryana Tribune