Even after a decade, Nag river rejuvenation plan only on paper

 

 

 

DREAMS do not always sail through the waters of time. In case of the city’s signature Nag river, the dreams of rejuvenation, abatement of pollution, and river-front development have remained only on paper despite passage of 10 years. However, the estimated cost of the project has undergone several revisions. In fact, the estimated cost of the project has increased by a whopping 16 times during the said period. Civic authorities and Mayors of the city, over the years, have been speaking of rejuvenation of the Nag river. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, also has been championing the cause of river rejuvenation. His grand plan for city’s development envisioned ‘water taxi’ running in Nag river and citizens using it as their daily commute. Sadly, the ‘nullah’ that remains in the form of Nag river has taken toll of the grand vision.

 

What else can explain the project remaining only on paper for 10 years with only cost getting revised? Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had prepared a detailed project report of the Nag river rejuvenation plan and submitted it to the State Government for approval under the Centre’s National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 2008. Then, the estimated project cost was Rs 241.10 crore. The State asked for a revision of plan and sought details accordingly. NMC then submitted a revised plan entailing the cost of Rs 126.30 crore in 2012. Maharashtra Government approved the plan and sent it to the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Meera Mehrishi, Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC, reviewed the plan on April 14 the same year and assured that the plan would be approved. In the year 2014, a team of experts from IIT Roorkee inspected the river and submitted its report to MoEF&CC. The project got a positive nod after that and a revised proposal of Rs 1252.32 crore was sanctioned. Gadkari directed the officials concerned to present a fresh proposal in the year 2018. In January 2021, Gadkari again took initiative and arranged a meeting of the ministry concerned in New Delhi. After the meeting, Gadkari announced in a media conference that the cost of Nag River Rejuvenation and Pollution Abatement Project was increased and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) approved loan of Rs 1,700 crore for the project. Gadkari also stated that the State Cabinet had cleared the project about a year ago, but it was stuck in Ministry of Jal Shakti. In the same press conference, he also stated that Union Finance Ministry had prohibited ministries from sanctioning new projects but he obtained permission for Nag river project.

 

On March 2, Gadkari made another announcement of approval of Rs 2,117.54 crore for Nag River Pollution Abatement Project after a meeting with World Bank officials, Directorate General of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and Municipal Commissioner of Nagpur. However, all through these years, the vision did not translate into concrete action on ground, except for usual pre-monsoon cleaning of Nag river. Today, Nag river has been reduced to a highly polluted water channel of sewage and industrial waste. NMC’s detailed project report on ‘Rejuvenation of Nag River and its Tributaries in Nagpur city’ stated that city generated 345.40 Million Liter per Day (MLD) sewage water in 2011. Now, in 2021, the city is producing 550-600 MLD waste water. By 2041, this will cross 750 MLD mark. All this waste water directly flows through Nag and Pili rivers, and has become the biggest contributing factor to polluting these rivers. The facts and figures available should make the authorities first work on changing the ground reality instead of making grandiose plans.

 

NMC still waiting for project approvals from Centre THOUGH the minister announced the project for Nag river, NMC is still waiting for permission from Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) in New Delhi. NMC’s special officer on duty for rivers and lakes, Mohammed Israil, told ‘The Hitavada’ that the pandemic delayed the EFC meeting which was likely to be held in July. “We have received the State Cabinet’s permission for the project but the EFC’s nod is required for implementation of the project,” said Israil. The officer further said, “National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), which is going to implement the project, has yet to appoint the Project Management Consultant (PMC). After the appointment of PMC the tender process will take shape at civic administration level.” Israil stated that the Loan Agreement with JICA had already been done and the remaining formalities would be over soon.