
‘Develop sewage plants on the lines of Dharavi to reduce Nag river pollution'
1
2
Nagpur: In a major push to reduce pollution in Nag River, chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis
and Union minister for road transport and highways
Nitin Gadkari
on Saturday directed city officials to expedite the construction of two key Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at VNIT and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV).
Fadnavis suggested that both STPs be developed on the lines of the Dharavi model in Mumbai. Fadnavis and Gadkari were holding a review meeting regarding the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project at Hyderabad House on Sunday.
The Dharavi model, known for its high-efficiency sewage treatment in minimal space, is now being seen as a blueprint for Nagpur's urban water management challenges. CM Fadnavis specifically recommended that both STPs adopt a compact, high-capacity design similar to the one successfully implemented in Mumbai's Dharavi.
Supporting the move, Gadkari asked Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to immediately submit its technical report to enable the speedy execution of the projects.
The two STPs are seen as critical infrastructure to stop untreated sewage from flowing directly into the Nag River — a long-standing environmental concern in the city. Once complete, the projects are expected to significantly improve the river's water quality and reduce public health risks associated with sewage pollution.
Besides the STP push, Fadnavis and Gadkari reviewed the city's broader infrastructure progress. Gadkari once again expressed concern over the low-pressure water supply in some localities and directed officials to act promptly. During the meeting, a review of the city's integrated traffic management system and CCTV network was also conducted. Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari informed that six teams are working to revive non-functional cameras and that the entire CCTV system will be operational within the next two months.
The chief minister also called for a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) that considers Nagpur's future urban expansion. He instructed that any road stretches dug up for utility works, particularly by MSEDCL, be restored without delay. The meeting was attended by revenue minister and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Krishna Khopde and Pravin Datke, urban development principal secretary Govindraj KH, MahaMetro MD Shravan Hardikar, MSIDC MD Brijesh Dixit, district collector Vipin Itankar, and senior officials from NMC, NIT, MSEDCL, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Bound to fail': Tejasvi Surya slams ₹18,000 crore Congress-backed tunnel project in Bengaluru
BJP leader and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has strongly criticised the Karnataka government's ₹ 18,000 crore tunnel road project, calling it 'unscientific' and 'bound to fail.' Tejasvi Surya also questioned the integrity of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which was prepared at a cost of ₹ 9.5 crore.(FILE) He alleged that the Congress government is systematically neglecting public transport in the city while pushing forward with projects that are financially and environmentally unsound. The proposed tunnel road, planned between Hebbal and Silk Board, has been mired in controversy from the start. Surya highlighted several concerns, beginning with the limited access, the tunnel is expected to be open only to four-wheelers and would require commuters to pay a toll of ₹ 600 per return journey. (Also Read: Bengaluru sees light showers and pleasant weather, rain likely to pick up later this week) Check out his post here: He also questioned the integrity of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which was prepared at a cost of ₹ 9.5 crore by a consultant who had reportedly been blacklisted elsewhere. "Even after such an exorbitant cost, several sections of the DPR were allegedly copied from another report," he said. Calling the tunnel an 'unscientific solution' to Bengaluru's growing mobility challenges, Surya warned that the project could end up becoming a massive drain on public funds. He pointed to the proposed 40 per cent Viability Gap Funding, under which the state government would cover an additional ₹ 7,200 crore to compensate for the project's projected losses. Taking a direct swipe at Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Surya posted on X (formerly Twitter), 'Thank you, @DKShivakumar, for neglecting crucial civic issues such as potholes, underfunding public transport, delaying Metro projects, withholding Fare Fixation Committee reports, and pushing forward with an unscientific project.' Surya's remarks came in response to a post by Shivakumar, who promoted the tunnel project on X, calling it a game-changer for Bengaluru's traffic woes. 'Your time matters. We're building with you in mind,' Shivakumar wrote, outlining the project's key promises — the ability to skip over 25 traffic bottlenecks, save more than 45 minutes of daily commute time, enjoy 16.75 km of seamless, signal-free travel, and get direct access to the IT corridor. 'A faster, smarter Bengaluru is on its way — because you deserve better,' he added. (Also Read: Green signal for Bengaluru's Skydeck: ₹ 500 cr tourism landmark to rise at Kommaghatta)


India Gazette
36 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Operation Sindhu: India to operate 3 more evacuation flights from Iran; 162 Indians in Jordan to return soon
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The Indian government has scheduled three additional evacuation flights from Iran over the next two to three days as part of its ongoing Operation Sindhu, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after receiving a new batch of 285 Indian nationals evacuated from the conflict-hit Iran at the Delhi Airport, Margherita said that 162 Indian nationals who had crossed into Jordan from Israel would be repatriated 'within a day or two.' 'We have scheduled to have three more flights from Iran in the next two to three days. In the same way, we are in constant contact with Indian nations in Iran as well as Israel... 162 Indian nationals have crossed the border to Jordan, and within a day or two, they will be brought back to India,' the minister said. The group of 285 evacuees, who arrived on a special flight from Mashhad, included people from several states such as Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. 'Special evacuation flight has arrived in New Delhi Airport... carrying 285 Indian nationals... Mainly from 10 states... Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra... The total number now stands at 1713,' Margherita added. The evacuees were welcomed by the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, after they landed at the Delhi Airport, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated. In a post on X, the MEA stated, 'India's evacuation efforts continue under Operation Sindhu. MoS Shri Pabitra Margherita received 285 Indian nationals evacuated on a special flight from Mashhad that landed in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 22 June.' 'With this, 1,713 Indian nationals have now been brought home from Iran,' it added. Meanwhile, MoS Margherita, in a post on X, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing operation, stating, 'Warmly welcomed 285 Indian nationals at the Delhi airport who were evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu. With this, 1,713 Indian nationals have been brought home safely from Iran.' (ANI)


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Janaki vs State of Kerala: Upcoming Suresh Gopi starrer faces CBFC hurdle over its name
The release of Malayalam film Janaki vs State of Kerala, starring actor and Union minister Suresh Gopi, has hit a roadblock after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sought a change in the title of the film. The film's director, Praveen Narayanan, said that the CBFC has denied a screening certificate for the film, which was slated to be released on June 27. He said the film will now not be released on that date. The CBFC has reportedly sought a change in the name of the titular character, Janaki, and for the name to be removed from the film's title, as Janaki is also a name for Goddess Sita. The film revolves around the legal fight of a woman against the government. The CBFC is yet to serve a written notice to the film's producers regarding the demand, and it is expected to be delivered on Monday. Director and general secretary of the influential Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), B Unnikrishnan, reacted sharply to the CBFC's reported demand. 'A woman who faces an atrocity cannot be given the name of Goddess Sita? This will create a major crisis in the industry… At times, the names of Hindu characters will be that of a God or Goddess. If this is the situation, we will not even be able to use my name,' Unnikrishnan said. He also said that all films are made as per the guidelines of the CBFC, and that these guidelines do not mention anything related to what the board has demanded. Suresh Gopi has, so far, not reacted to the controversy related to the movie, which is his first one to hit screens after he became a Union minister last year.