NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has urged the central government to approve the Godavari rejuvenation and beautification plan worth Rs 1,800 crore.
The proposal was sent to the Centre in February this year, but it is yet to be approved. NMC has sent a letter to the Centre’s NITI Aayog requesting immediate approval as it will help the civic body to prepare the detailed project report of the plan, which aims to beautify the river and make it pollution-free.
The plan will include repairs, re-modification and widening of 67 nullahs and three tributaries, which links the city with the river. The three tributaries are Waldevi, Nandini and Waghadi.
The effluent is released at nullahs and the tributaries. This makes the river polluted. Hence, NMC has plans to make all the city nullahs straight, widen and increase the depth.
City mayor Satish Kulkarni told TOI that it has a plan to divert the water of 67 nullahs in the city directly to the sewage treatment plants (STPs) through the pipeline to ensure the effluent released in the nullahs do no reach the river.
“We had already sent the proposal of making Godavari pollution-free to the Centre around four months ago, but we are yet to get Centre’s approval. Hence, we have sent a reminder letter directly to the NITI Aayog, requesting immediate approval to the project,” said Kulkarni.
According to a senior NMC official, the Godavari will not become pollution free until we purify its tributaries and nullahs as sewage of the city flows into the river causing pollution.
“Hence, there is a need to make all the city nullahs and tributaries pollution-free by removing encroachment, stopping the release of effluents and maintaining the natural depths and widths,” said the official.
Rajesh Pandit, an environmentalist and one of the petitioners in the Godavari river pollution case in the Bombay high court, said, “The Godavari is the lifeline of Nashik city and it has huge religious importance in view of the Kumbh Mela held after every 12 years. The river should be made free from pollution and encroachment.”
