Varun Sagar being desilted after 100yrs: Devnani | Jaipur News
Ajmer: Assembly Speaker and Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani and Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat inaugurated desilting work at the historic Varun Sagar lake, earlier known as Foy Sagar, here Saturday.Devnani said excavation is set to begin for the first time in about a century, aimed at increasing the lake’s water-holding capacity, expanding its catchment area and restoring it to its original form by removing encroachments. He said the work will also help manage excess rainwater and provide relief from waterlogging in the city, while enhancing the lake’s natural beauty.He linked the project with other planned works including Taragarh Fort development, a leopard safari, a science park, Ana Sagar development and beautification of the Chaurasiyawas pond, saying these would boost tourism and create jobs. A statue of Lord Varun Dev is to be installed at Varun Sagar lake, along with a comprehensive renovation of the surrounding garden.Officials said about 188,400 cubic metres of silt will be removed from Varun Sagar, increasing its holding capacity by 6.65 MCFT. Jungle clearing and desilting will also be carried out along around 62 km of a local seasonal river stretch from Muhami near Ajmer to restore flow, at a cost of Rs 12.04 crore.Desilting is also planned for the Dai and Sagarmati rivers and their distributaries, natural drains of Phulsagar Kayad and Beer, and the Kalyanipura channel, to address reduced river flow, declining capacity, embankment erosion and flood-like situations during rains. The cost of this set of works is estimated at Rs 3 crore.
