Australian firm to revive Model Town’s Naini Lake

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation is likely to seek help of a foreign entity for revival of Naini Lake, once a famous tourist spot in the city’s Model Town area. The NDMC is in talks with an Australian firm that had approached the civic body with a proposal to revive the lake. This week, the firm will present the proposal to NDMC mayor Ravinder Gupta and top NDMC officials. Mr Gupta told this newspaper that the civic body is in talks with the Australian firm for the revival of the Naini Lake. “An Australian firm, Sustainable Infrastructure Solution (SIS), through its Indian partner Optimus Enviropro Private Limited, has came up with a proposal to revive the Naini Lake. The firm has proposed to revive the lake with latest technology available in the world,” added Mr Gupta.

The Naini Lake is an artificial lake covering 12 acres of land and is a famous picnic spot. The lake used to be a thriving water body long ago that received storm water from surrounding areas. Its inlets and outlets were blocked after the area developed into a residential colony. What completely destroyed the water body was that it was encased in cemented walls and a floor to contain it.

”The NDMC is committed to revive the lake for larger public interest and final decision will be taken after going through the proposal of Australian firm,” said Mr Gupta.

The lake falls under the jurisdiction of the NDMC and the civic agency had leased out the water body to the tourism department, which operates a boating facility on the spot. However, the lease has expired now. The NDMC is planning to revive the lake by its own resources. Local residents are also demanding revival of the lake to it past glory.