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
NMC Proposes 5% Water Tariff Hike Across User Slabs Water consumers in Nagpur may soon face higher bills as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has proposed a 5% increase in water tariffs across all user categories. The proposal, submitted by the water works department, is based on Clause 56(B) of the Nagpur City Water Rate Assessment and Collection Bylaws, 2009, and the 2010 tariff schedule. This clause grants the municipal commissioner the authority to approve up to a 5% annual tariff hike without requiring approval from the general body, provided the decision is shared with the standing committee for information. Any increase exceeding 5% would necessitate approval from the general body. The move has sparked debate due to its timing, as it comes amid unresolved complaints about faulty billing, meter inaccuracies, and inconsistent water supply in many areas. Critics argue that implementing a tariff hike without addressing these systemic issues would unfairly burden consumers. Officials, however, cited rising operational and maintenance costs, along with the civic body’s financial strain, as key reasons for the revision. The proposal marks a departure from recent trends. Despite having the authority to revise tariffs annually, former municipal commissioners Radhakrishnan B and Abhijeet Chaudhari opted not to implement any hikes after the 2023 revision. This decision provided relief to consumers amid rising living costs. Superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee confirmed that the last tariff increase was enacted in 2023. The existing water tariff rates are structured across residential, institutional, and commercial categories. For residential users (R1), the rates range from Rs8.15 per unit for the first 20 units to Rs24.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #radhakrishnan_b #abhijeet_chaudhari #shweta_banerjee #nagpur_city_water_rate_assessment
