THEY -- a ‘Hitavada’ Reporter and Photographer -- travelled for over 35 kilometers along the Naag River from its eastern end near Bharatwada right up to the Ambazari Lake taking a close look at the overall condition of the city’s signature waterbody. Near Bharatwada, the Naag River meets the Pili River, forming a truly picturesque confluence. But as The Hitavada team travelled along the stream towards the west, it realised the horrible condition into which the city of Nagpur -- that is its people and its bureaucracy -- has pushed the Naag. Any Nagpurian will feel sorry at the terrible state of affairs -- though he, too, has contributed paradoxically to the pathetic condition of the Naag River. Similar is the condition of the Pili River and the Pohra River as well. ‘The Hitavada’ has never loosened its vigil on these three waterbodies, plus the multiple lakes of which the city used to be once proud. On these counts, we have always been in a campaign mode -- unmindful of what some influential people may feel about the coverage. But ‘The Hitavada’ also harbours a silent grief -- that the people in positions of authority in the city’s power-pyramid do not seem to have taken any extra trouble to rectify things, to cleanse the three rivers and keep the lakes in good condition. Of course, the people high up in power structure would certainly claim that they have arranged for beautification etc etc etc of the rivers and the lakes. Unfortunately, however, the common people of Nagpur do not have much evidence of such activities.

 

Of course, nobody can forget how the administration spent a lot of money -- in hundreds of crores of rupees -- for the beautification of the Futala (Telangkhedi) Lake, all right, constructing viewing galleries (and spoiling the serene lake-view) and erecting a fountain in the middle of the waterbody. Despite all that, what has happened to the Futala Lake is common knowledge today -- a mess for which there cannot be any correction. OF COURSE, the story of the Naag River -- and of that of the other two streams -- change in future if the administration lives up to the promise Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi made to the city two-plus years ago that the Naag would be rejuvenated. Until this moment, nothing of that sort has happened. And that is the sad impression ‘The Hitavada’ team came back with.

 

The readers have acquainted themselves with ‘The Hitavada’ report on the condition of the Naag River. The administration appears to have undertaken some works in the Naag stream at a few spots. Some work has shown a positive outcome, too. However, the overall maintenance of the Naag River is of the poorest standard -- which even a blind person can testify. The purpose here is not just to blast the administration. It has never been so. The purpose here is to express a sincere sense of grief that the city’s signature river has been experiencing a seminal neglect from the city’s people and the administration. Considering the immensity of the project of rejuvenation of the Naag River, the loosefooter feels that a massive popular movement needs to be launched to educate people not to dump filth into the river stream, and to keep its banks clean and devoid of abuse.

 

The people need to form voluntary action groups to cleanse the Naag River and keep it clean. These voluntary action groups need to pressure the administration into blocking all sewer lines that dump lakhs of gallons of filth into the Naag stream. True, that part may require a lot of funding on the part of the city administration. But then, for the city’s good, such an in vestment is necessary. IT IS expected that the city would soon get a lot of money from the Centre and the State of Maharashtra for the Naag River rejuvenation. That process, unfortunately, is yet to begin -- and may take some more time (whose length nobody knows). Many civic officials have often told ‘The Hitavada’ that right action is being undertaken to cleanse the Naag River in a scientific manner. For the common people of Nagpur, however, all these words are only hollow promises. This is where the Naag River stands. ‘The Hitavada’ readers have seen the confluence of the Naag and the Pili rivers flowing richly with good water. The city of Nagpur deserves such a spectacle all along the 44 kilometer length of the Naag. The question is: When will the city become so fortunate? n