The Times of India       22.09.2014  

Civic body set to measure sewage inflow in Nag River

Nagpur: To comply with the directions of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to measure the quality and quantity of sewage flowing into Nag River at 10 locations. A consultant will be appointed for this purpose.


Deputy engineer Mohammed Israil told TOI that the 10 points are those where huge volume of sewage flows into the river. "This will help us plan the rejuvenation of the river as well as the sewage project. Other than the volume of sewage inflow, parameters like biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) will be measured at these points," he said.

Eight points have already been finalized; Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) skating ring, Canal Road, Ramdaspeth, Sangam, Great Nag Road bridge before Mokshadham turning, Reshimbagh, bridge near St Xavier School, Pardi bridge and Bharatwada-Punapur. Two more locations will be finalized in a day or two.

"We have sought quotations from consultants. Once we get quotations from a few agencies, the top officials will decide the method of choosing the consultant," he said.

The NMC official said IIT professors had sought compliance on 40 issues. "We are working hard on it, but it will take some time. It will require cooperation of all NMC departments," he said.

IIT Roorkee professors have told NMC that if it complies with all the requirements then it will recommend to the central government that the sewage project be taken up with the river rejuvenation plan. "The professors are very clear about one thing. The river can't be called as 'rejuvenated' until every single drop of sewage flowing into it stops. This will greatly help NMC," Israil added.

NMC's project cell has also started determining where and how much land it will need for the sewerage and rejuvenation project. "Other than laying the pipeline, we will have to build chambers. Both will have to be on the banks of rivers otherwise the chambers will obstruct the flow of the river. This will require some land acquisition. NMC will try to minimize it," he said.

Meanwhile, NMC is eyeing public utility (PU) land in Ravi Nagar government colony to construct a mini sewage treatment plant of 5 million litre per day capacity.