Unfulfilled Dream of Dr. Hari Singh Gaur

Beautification of Sagar Lake was the dream of Dr. Hari Singh Gaur. Dr. Gaur wanted to make Sagar Lake a cheap mean of transportation. He wished that students should reach Sagar University by using streamers and boats in the Sagar Lake. But dream of Dr. Gaur shattered with the decay of Sagar Lake. The residential colonies were kept on building in the lake and the size of lake started reducing with the establishment of residential colonies in it. The administration awoke from its long sleep when it was shook many times and it started doing formalities for conservation of lake.

The specialists admit that the lake can be turned into a tourist spot if proper care is taken of it. According to a social thinker, Dr. Raghu thakur said “A strong determination is required for turning the lake into a Tourist Place”. He further added that the decision of Government regarding making a swimming pool in the play ground is not wise one and said that the amount of Rs. one million which the government is going to spend on making the new swimming pool should be spent on developing the Sagar lake and it should be turned lake into a swimming pool. The small pond that has dried can be turned into a picnic spot.

Dr. Anuradha Soni, Lecturer in Botany department of Sagar University admitted that this lake can be turned into a tourist spot but water lettuce has to be removed from it as it can make the water poisonous which can be harmful for fishes and other water bodies. She further suggested that the plants of Microsis and hydrilla should be planted in the lake. These plants purify the water and kill the worms and there is no harmful effect of these plants on fishes.

Dr. M.S Aggarwal and Dr. Sanjay Soni from Animal Science department of Sagar University told that the lake can be turned into a tourist spot but the cleanliness of lake should be done under the guidance of those who have already done research on lake. They also admitted that the water of lake can be converted into drinking water if it is purified by using scientific method.

The local administration is also aware of this fact although it does not make any sincere effort regarding it. Mr. Sanjay Tiwari, Engineer in local administration asserted that local administration has already consulted the tourism department of M.P about the issue of beatification of lake. The officials of tourism department did survey of water box of university, Rahatgarh water falls etc .and delayed the issue of cleanliness of Sagar Lake by saying that its size is small and there is no sufficient spacefor picnic, parking and roaming of tourists around it.

Reported by Prabhat Katare

Composed by: Sudhaamit Saraswat