The Times of India                 03.05.2013

Youths join NMC workers to clean Nag River

The groups from NMC responsible for the cleaning work started desiliting of the riverbed by engaging machineries and 200 sanitary workers at each of the six stretches. The banks too were cleaned up during the day. Mayor Anil Sole and municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane inspected the works at all the stretches between 7am and 9am.

The highlight of the day was participation by around 120 youths from Slum Soccer Club under the banner of Krida Vikas Sanstha. The youths arrived at Sangam in their football gear at 7am. They collected garbage removed by the sanitary workers from the riverbed and kept it aside on the bank. The work carried on for two hours.

The youths celebrated Barse's birthday during a short break by cutting the cake on the river's bank. Barse, who monitored the work, told TOI that it was one of the best birthday celebrations of his life. "I had taken the pledge to save Nag River along with my colleagues in the general body meeting recently. Since then I had been planning to take active part in the campaign along with these youths hailing from different places like Khaparkheda, Mahadula, Lonara, Bokhara, Koradi and East Nagpur, who were eager to do something for the river," he said adding, "Nag River can reclaim its lost glory if the citizens show similar enthusiasm."

Assistant commissioner Mahesh Moroney, executive engineer Shashikant Hastak and other officials from Dhantoli zone were present at Sangam bank.

Meanwhile, NMC officials have served notice to Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) after it was found that the sewage line coming from the institution's premises was broken at the river stretch near Corporation Colony. Officials also removed encroachments along the river bank at Ashok Square. Ambazari lake's overflow point is looking scenic after successful cleaning work.

In a noble gesture, MLC Mitesh Bangadiya engaged excavators and other machineries to help NMC in the task. The excavators removed the silt from the riverbed without any glitch.

Members of Vidarbha Sarpamitra Samiti also participated in the campaign to help catch any reptiles in the river. They rescued a big rat snake from the river's bank at Dandige layout near Alankar Talkies Square after receiving call from executive engineer Rahul Warke and assistant commissioner Rajesh Karade.

The shramdaan project will be conducted between 7am and 9am followed by desilting work by the NMC till 1pm throughout the campaign.