NMC to hire private firms for river clean-up

NASHIK: The civic body has decided to clean up the Godavari through four private firms or contractors and the process to appoint them has started.
The nine-km stretch of the Godavari from Anandvalli to Dasak-Panchak will be cleaned through the private firms that will remove water hyacinth, plastic and other waste in the river.
Speaking to TOI, additional municipal commissioner Kishor Borde said, “Earlier, we had tried to appoint a single contractor or private firm to clean the river passing through the limits of the municipal corporation along the stretch from Anandvalli weir to Dasak-Panchak.But we did not receive any response.
He added, “We have now divided the stretch in four parts and four contractors will appointed to clean the river. They will be appointed for a year and clean water hyacinth and other waste in their respective areas. This will help keep the river clean.”
The official said the civic body has floated a tender for appointing the private firms and the process is expected to be completed shortly. “We will appoint the firms immediately after the tender process,” he said.
The nine-km stretch from Anandvalli weir to Dasak-Panchak has been divided into four parts — Anandvalli weir to Chopda bridge, Chopda bridge to Holkar bridge, Holkar bridge to Kapila-Godavari Sangam and fourth part from Kapila Sangam to Dasak-Panchak.
The pollution in the rivers and nullahs in the jurisdiction of the NMC has become a big worry. Water hyacinth is one of the many pollution-related issues. Moreover, plastic and other waste add to the mess. The NMC needs regular cleaning activities for the entire stretch of the river flowing through its limits.
Another factor leading to the river pollution is the uninterrupted flow of dirty water from drainage chambers into the Godavari .
All drainage chambers along the river broke during the floods in August earlier this year, leading to mixing of drainage water into the river. The chambers at Chopada Lawns, Ramwadi, Lendi Nullah, Ramkund, Rokdobawadi, Amardham and Kannamwar Bridge were damaged due to the flood. Though the NMC repaired the chambers, it has been unsuccessful in preventing the drainage water from entering the river.