A committee formed in Nashik to revive Godavari

NASHIK: During a brainstorming session on the rejuvenation of river Godavari by city-based activists and experts, Deepak Naik chairman of Maharashtra State Economic Development Council and Rekha Somalia, director Naik Environmental Research Institute Ltd, a committee was formed to work towards reviving the river.

Naik is an expert in river issues who rejuvenated dead rivers and assured that 78 percent of the river could be rejuvenated in a year.

Devang Jani, founder of Goda Premi Nagri Seva Samiti said, “The river has been concretised to a large extent due to which the natural flow of the river has changed and also natural streams have been buried or dead.”


Naik who worked extensively on river issues in 54 cities said that river has lot of potential to rejuvenate.

Environment activists expressed their desire to have a committee that would act on reviving the river and it was decided that Naik would head the committee.

“Naik has lot of experience in reviving rivers and we have decided to make him the chairperson,” said environment lover Ramesh Iyer. “We have much better tourism in Nashik than the boat club and seaplane. We have agro-tourism and we can focus on bird tourism and pilgrimage. Seaplane and boating will destroy Gangapur dam which has lot of migratory and resident birds,” said Iyer.

The committee decided to focus on eco-tourism and revival of river Godavari. An action plan will be chalked out for the same.