NAGPUR: Nagpur municipal corporation (NMC) has finally acknowledged that Nag River originates from the hillocks near Lava village. This became clear on Thursday when mayor Anil Sole, who will spearhead NMC's 15-day campaign for the cause of Nag River, held a meeting with Nagpur zilla parishad officials. After the meeting, Sole told TOI that ZP's role in the conservation of the river is of great importance as the area from Dabha to Lava village comes under its jurisdiction.

This is in sharp contrast with NMC's earlier stand. It was on the recommendation of NMC and lobbying by industrialists that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had recommended to the state government to denotify Nag River from its origin point to Ambazari Lake. It will be interesting to see how the district administration, NIT, ZP and Wadi gram panchayat will take joint initiative in cancelling the recommendation.

The civic body has now launched initiatives for the conservation and rejuvenation of the river's first stretch by involving the zilla parishad (ZP) in the 15-day Save Nag River campaign.

During the 17-day Save Nag River: My City, My River campaign, this newspaper had highlighted that the origin of the river was near Lava village and not Ambazari Lake's overflow point. During the campaign, TOI, accompanied by Vidarbha Environmental Action Group (VEAG) office-bearers, had even visited the river's origin that had been traced by activists Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee and Shyam Pandharipande in 1999.

Involving and, members of NMC's eco city foundation who first found out the river's origin and also stretch upto Ambazari lake in 1999, TOI went upto the origin site and highlighted about its existence till date during 17-day campaign which gave momentum for saving the Nag river.

"NMC has appealed to ZP to initiate steps for the river's conservation right from its origin. Gotmare and ZP officials have responded positively to our appeal. NMC will provide all help required by the ZP in this matter. The river and Ambazari Lake will be rid of pollution if the river's first stretch is cleaned," Sole said.

Gotmare said, "ZP has already initiated steps for the river's conservation, considering the massive response that the movement got from the city."

"NMC's initiative has encouraged the ZP. We have already submitted a memorandum to the collector Saurabh Rao and have sought Nagpur Improvement Trust's (NIT) cooperation for conserving the river's first stretch. ZP will conduct a survey and seek the cooperation of people residing on the river bank. In association with Wadi gram panchayat. ZP will also launch a campaign from May 1 to 15 to ensure public participation for the river's cause," she said.