Panchkula: Mayor Sham Lal’s proposal to transform a segment of the seasonal Singh Nullah into an artificial lake featuring waterfront tourism has sparked concern among residents and officials over its practicality and potential conflict with an ongoing ₹95.4-crore rejuvenation project by the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA).Under the mayor’s plan, the 5.3-km seasonal drain—which runs through Sectors 1, 2, 4, 12, 12-A, the Industrial Area, and enters Zirakpur—would be divided. The initial 2-km residential stretch would remain a seasonal choe, with a gate built to divert rainwater for gardening. Beyond the 2-km mark up to the Zirakpur border, four new tubewells and pipelines carrying tertiary water from parks would be used to fill the stream to enable boating, theme parks, and shops. A concrete barrier before the Zirakpur border would retain the water.“That plan can coexist. They may develop the entire nullaha, but after which we can convert it into a lake. I am taking up the matter with the state govt. Either PMDA or the corporation or jointly we can build it,” Mayor Sham Lal told TOI.However, critics have questioned the project’s feasibility. Mohit Gupta, founder of Solution Box, criticised the proposal to build tubewells amid an existing drinking water shortage and warned that using tertiary water would cause foul odours.Shivalik Vikas Manch member RK Aggarwal questioned whether the civic body was attempting to take over PMDA functions, asking, “Jal Dhara or lake? Make it clear to the residents. The PMDA was established specifically to drive development by executing large-scale projects in Panchkula. Is the civic body now set to take over all functions from the PMDA? Given the quality of the corporation’s past work and the various irregularities that have surfaced, one cannot help but wonder what the outcome will be for a project of this magnitude. This raises a serious question.”The PMDA has already allotted work for its ₹95.4-crore Jal Dhara project, which covers both the Singh Nullah (5.3 km) and another nullah running from Mata Mansa Devi Mandir to Rajeev-Indira Colony (5.6 km). The PMDA plan addresses stagnant water, foul smells, mosquito breeding, and illegal garbage dumping by constructing a 1.5-metre-wide precast central channel, RCC retaining walls, and GI fencing. It also includes cycle and walking tracks, steel bridges, street lighting, green belts, a cafeteria, ten badminton courts, six yoga courts, two volleyball courts, two half basketball courts, a skating rink, and two children’s play areas.
