NMC Floats Fresh Cleaning Tenders Despite Claim of Water Surplus The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued fresh tenders worth over Rs24 lakh for cleaning and repairing public wells in three zones—Satranjipura, Dhantoli, and Hudkeshwar-Narsala—despite repeatedly asserting that the city has an adequate supply of drinking water from the Pench and Kanhan rivers. The tenders, floated by the NMC’s Public Health Engineering Department, include tasks such as dewatering, desilting, structural repairs, and installing information boards at public wells. This move has sparked criticism, with civic observers and critics questioning the necessity of repeated spending on groundwater sources when the city claims to have sufficient surface water reserves. The NMC maintains that Nagpur receives approximately 765 million liters per day (MLD) of water from surface sources, which it says eliminates the need for reliance on groundwater. However, the corporation’s decision to allocate funds for well maintenance has drawn skepticism. Executive Engineer Shrikant Waikar explained that the cleaning of 352 wells is part of an annual exercise conducted ahead of summer and monsoon seasons. He emphasized that the work is routine and necessary to ensure water availability during extreme weather. Despite these assurances, historical data reveals that the NMC has spent over Rs1.24 crore on cleaning hundreds of public wells since 2022. Critics argue that repeated desilting efforts have not resolved the issue of neglected wells, with some appearing in successive contracts. The latest tenders, covering 352 wells, have raised concerns due to the lack of transparency. The tender notices do not disclose the names, exact locations, or contamination status of the wells, fueling suspicions that the same wells are being targeted repeatedly.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #shrikant_waikar #public_health_engineering_department
No sewage contamination: NMC defends Gorewada water quality Nagpur: Amid growing allegations of sewage entering Gorewada Lake, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has maintained that the reservoir remains uncontaminated and meets all water quality standards. Following an on-site inspection, officials confirmed that the lake is not currently used for drinking water supply and serves only as an emergency backup source. The inspection, conducted by a panel including Water Supply Committee chairperson Divya Dhurde, deputy chairperson Vijay Zalke, superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee, and executive engineer Shrikant Waikar, found no evidence of sewage mixing. Key water quality indicators, such as low biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), absence of ammonia, and a stable aquatic ecosystem, were cited as proof of the lake’s cleanliness. Dhurde emphasized that visual inspections and available reports show water quality remains within permissible limits. Fresh samples were collected during the inspection for detailed physico-chemical analysis. A technical report comparing data from 2019 to 2026 further dismissed recent allegations as "baseless." The report highlighted that BOD levels in the lake are approximately 1.5mg/l, below the 2mg/l benchmark for clean water. Ammonia, a direct indicator of sewage contamination, was not detected. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) stood at 15mg/l, significantly lower than the permissible range of 50-250mg/l. Dissolved oxygen levels of around 5mg/l were noted, supporting aquatic life, with multiple fish species observed in the lake—a sign of a healthy ecosystem. The pH level was recorded at 8.27, and total dissolved solids (TDS) at 198mg/l, both within safe limits. The NMC’s claims have drawn sharp political criticism.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #divya_dhurde #vijay_zalke #shweta_banerjee #shrikant_waikar
