After two year since a huge budget was sanctioned for the conservation, revival and beautification of five ponds of the city the officials seem to have forgot the project. None of the officials was able to reply about what has been done with the funds sanctioned for the revival and beautification of Pancho Pandava (Shivpur), Mirapur Basai, Sushkeshwar, Sonebhadra and Sonia ponds.

On the initiative of high-powered committee for conservation of water bodies a huge budget was sanctioned from the establishment fund of UP Housing Development Board for these ponds in June 2012. A budget of Rs 33 lakhs was sanctioned for Pancho Pandava pond, where some stairs have been constructed so far. While for Mirapur Basahi pond a budget of Rs 28 lakhs had been sanctioned, which has been utilized to construct only its boundary wall.

For restoration of Sushkeshwar and Sonebhadra ponds the budgets of Rs 12 lakhs and Rs 25 lakhs, respectively, was arranged while Rs 29.50 lakhs were sanctioned for Sonia pond. However, no change in fate of these ponds is visible so far.

On being contacted divisional commissioner RM Srivastava denied of having any idea about any such projects. He said, however, that a proposal for revival and beautification of 30 ponds have been prepared. Whether the ponds for which a huge budget had already been sanctioned in past have been also included in the new list of commissioner is yet to be known.

District magistrate Pranjal Yadav sought details from the officials concerned about the progress in works at those five ponds after TOI contacted him. Mentioning the practical problems being faced in regular monitoring of ponds he said that fresh plans are being prepared to engage institutions like banks and other organizations to adopt the water bodies for its revival, beautification and maintenance.