The Times of India 03.05.2013
Youths join NMC workers to clean Nag River
corporator Vijay Barse celebrated his birthday at Sangam bank to draw
attention towards the campaign. Barse also roped in around 120 youths
from his organization to assist NMC in the cleaning work.
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.