Water sports buffs, by the end of this year you can try out water scootering, paddle boating and motorboat rides at the iconic Swami Vivekananda Sarovar, popularly known as Bada Talab or Ranchi Lake.
Acting on the order of state urban development principal secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) directed Chadda and Associates, the architecture consultancy firm, to incorporate the components of water sports in the second phase of renovation of Ranchi Lake. This is to be carried out on 10 acres of Bada Talab near the Nagarmal Modi Seva Sadan Hospital-end.
Ranchi Lake or Bada Talab will be the first reservoir in Jharkhand to have water scooter rides if the plan fructifies.
Bada Talab, spread over 52 acres, was created by a British agent, Colonel Onsely, in 1842 with the help of prisoners to maintain the groundwater level of the city located more than 2,100 feet above sea level.
“Based on the directive of the principal secretary on inclusion of water sports for youths, we have asked private consultants to purchase water scooters, paddle boats and motorboats,” RMC commissioner Manoj Kumar said. “Ideally, we would begin with a pair of each of the water-sport equipment, which would be operated by a private agency and ensure safety of the participants.
“We hope to introduce the facility soon after the completion of the second phase of the renovation plan by the end of 2020,” he added. “We also plan to convert a small patch of island at the centre of the lake into a resting place with chairs and a snack kiosk.”
Chadda and Associates has also been asked to incorporate a kids’ play zone with swings and simple gaming activities and playstations.
An open-air theatre with live band performances, on the lines of the ones Rock Garden in Kanke, is also on cards.
The lake would have a sewage treatment plant (STP) and treatment of wastewater through bio-remediation.
“The consultant has been asked to submit a fresh detailed project report incorporating the new suggestions including setting up of STP within a week. After getting the report we will be getting it sanctioned by the department. As soon as we get an official nod, we will start the process of issuing a tender for the renovation work,” said a senior official in RMC engineering wing.
The cost of renovation is pegged at over Rs 14 crore after inclusion of the new suggestions. The plan already had the proposal for landscaping, benches and tensile structures, and a cafeteria.
The first phase of the beautification and conservation of the lake began in May 2017. Two bridges — one 20m long and 6m wide linking the main entrance with Island-1 of the lake, the other 200m long and 6m wide connecting Island-1 with Island-2 — were built then. This apart, lighting, fountains, pathways and sewage treatment plants were done in the first phase of renovation. This was pegged at Rs 13 crore.
A 33-foot-high statue of Swami Vivekananda was added to the beautification project taking the cost to Rs 20-crore in June 2017. The statue was opened to the public in January 2019.
