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
