NMC to make Nag river bank free of cattle sheds

NAGPUR: While continuing the desilting and cleaning work on Nag river on 10th day of its drive, Nagpur Municipal Corporation ( NMC) has begun work to also free the river's banks of cattle sheds and meat shops that pollute its water. Meanwhile, a newly constructed bridge on the river at Bharatwada is set to be inaugurated on Sunday.

The NMC health department has slapped notice on eight cattle sheds of which four are situated in Netaji chawl, Gawlipura, between Yeshwant stadium and Dhantoli railway-under-bridge, one each at Binaki, behind Homoeopathy college and KDK college at Nandanvan, and Pardi. Veterinary officer Gajendra Mahalle told TOI, the cattle-shed owners have been asked to vacate the river's bank in 48 hours. "NMC will initiate action if the owners fail to vacate the bank on their own. All these sheds are illegal as they are not registered and are an encroachment. The premises of cattle-sheds are unclean and filled with filth. The waste generated here is dumped in the river causing pollution," he said.

Similarly, the health department served notices on 10 meat vendors near the river's bank at Jagnade square and Pardi. The teams working in these stretches found huge quantity of meat waste dumped in the river by these vendors. Vendors were found dumping waste even in stretches cleaned up just days ago.

Health department official said action will be taken against vendors if they continued to run the establishments after 48 hours. "Police help has been sought to initiate action," he said.

Meanwhile, NMC has continued to construct loose stone structures in the riverbed between Shankar Nagar and Panchsheel square after completing desilting and cleaning works on this stretch. Interestingly, the civic officials painted the bridge near Ambazari crematorium to give it a better look.

Mayor Anil Sole and municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane along with campaign's core group members including superintending engineer Prakash Urade and health officer (sanitation) Dr Ashok Urkude continued to visit the stretches from Ambazari lake overflow point to Pardi. The desilting and cleaning work has been completed in over 60% of the river's 17.68km stretch in the city by Friday.

NMC will open the bridge on Nag river connecting Bharatwada with Durga Nagar. Former BJP national president Nitin Gadkari will dedicate the bridge to public on Sunday.