Despite securing central administrative approvals and being heralded as the definitive turnaround for Nagpur’s urban ecology, the Rs 1,926.99 crore Naag River Pollution Abatement Project remains virtually confined to paper. More than three years after receiving the formal green signal from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, tangible on-ground execution along the heavily choked watercourse has yet to begin. The multi-crore river rejuvenation scheme is funded jointly by the Central Governement (60 per cent), the Maharashtra Government (25 per cent), and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (15 per cent). The project envisions laying a 520-km comprehensive sewer network, erecting three new sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 92 MLD, setting up seven new pumping stations, and executing vital interception and diversion works divided across five distinct contract packages (CP). However, procedural inertia has stalled tangible progress on the ground.

 

Barring a minor Rs 1.32-crore non-sewerage contract (CP-5) covering the electric crematorium at Mokshadham, major core interventions show zero physical presence along the riverbed. For Package CP-3 (covering the North Zone sewer network worth Rs 253.17 crore), authorities have merely advanced to floating a Letter of Intent (LOI) following technical bid scrutiny.

 

Meanwhile, Package CP-4 remains stuck at the tendering phase, Package CP-2 (STP construction worth Rs 415.79 crore) is mired in draft tender scrutiny, and Package CP-1 (interception and diversion worth Rs 411.72 crore) is still crawling through preliminary survey, drawing, and design drafting. Although project management consultant Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) was appointed in late 2024 to oversee execution, actual civil mobilisation across the city’s landmark river remains entirely absent. Clarifying the roadmap, NMC’s Executive Engineer Rajesh Dufare said, “The overall sanctioned timeline for the project spans eight years, but the civic administration aims to expedite execution and complete all works within five years. Preliminary survey and tendering process are underway.” According to sources, following the technical evaluation of Package 3, on-site works across the remaining major sewerage and treatment packages will most likely begin in the upcoming financial year.