Pili river, which flows through the northern part of Nagpur and is a left bank tributary of Naag river, is struggling to survive as sewage, garbage, industrial waste, and what not are polluting the water body. The 16.7-km-long river originates in Lava-Dhaba village in Nagpur West and feeds Kanhan-Pench river system. It meets the Naag river in Bharatwada near Pardi in Nagpur East. From its originating site to its meeting point with Naag river at Bharatwada, the river traverses through the most densely populated parts of the city.

 

The river ‘accepts’ all dirt and filth of North and East Nagpur silently during its journey from one corner of the city to another. Pili river has become an open drainage system of the city. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) conducts desilting and cleaning campaigns for Pili river every year before monsoon. But, the annual exercise has failed to change the fate of the river. Government of India, Government of Maharashtra and NMC came forward to rejuvenate the river with the help of Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) recently along with Naag river. However, there are many issues which need to be addressed when it comes to rejuvenation and cleaning of the river. ‘The Hitavada’, recently, followed the Pili river and found the major sources directly responsible for contamination of the water body. After Gorewada, the river flows through Mankapur, Nara, Automotive Square, Itabhatti Chowk, Kalamna, Pardi and Bharatwada.

 

Mankapur ghat, located over the Pili River, generates solid waste, which is dumped in the river. Along with this, meat shops near the river, discharge waste water directly into the water body through nullahs. These shops do not have arrangement for the treatment of waste water. All the waste flowing through the nullah adds to further contamination of the river. Also, various major industrial units located in the catchment area of the river within the city and outside the city limits discharge waste water into the river. Instead of releasing waste water, these industries should have provided their own Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for treatment of industrial effluent. Dumping of solid waste is a major issue as residents dump garbage directly in the river and the Itabhatti Chowk is the biggest example of human apathy and ignorance towards the environment. “JICA is conducting a study to implement the rejuvenation and cleaning of Pili River along with Naag River.

 

We are tackling the issue of sewage throughout the city, including all the three rivers, but it will take time to get results,” Dr Shweta Banerjee, Superintending Engineer, Environment Department, NMC told ‘The Hitavada’. “We have received fund of Rs 1,926.99 crore from the Central Government to implement the rejuvenation project of Naag River and Pili River. The survey is underway and this year, at many places on Pili and Naag rivers, work will start,” Dr Banerjee added. While visiting various stretches of Pili River, a stretch near Itabhatti Chowk came across as a danger zone for commuters, with missing retaining walls and poorly lit road exposing motorists to a fatal plunge into the river in case of an accident. Absence of barriers is also leading to reckless garbage dumping from unchecked encroachments along this crucial road. To clean the Pili River, a multi-pronged approach is needed, including laying sewage lines, constructing new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), and also the citizens should be sensitised to keep their water bodies clean and usable. The administration and citizens both should work together to ensure cleanliness of the city’s rivers.