NMC finds itself a major culprit in polluting river

The foul smell of the water has been traced to the Chikhali nullah which flows four kilometres from Satpur to Godavari river carrying seven million litres daily (MLD) of industrial effluents. According to chemical analysis of the samples of the contaminated water by NMC, the presence of iron was 20 Mg/litres, which was much more than the prescribed upper limit of 3 milligrams per litre. The presence of zinc was 32 Mg/litre, which was much higher than the prescribed upper limit of 5 Mg/litre. The samples also contained sulphates, chlorides, oil and grease in more than the prescribed parameters.

These pollutants have been attributed to Ceat and Widem companies, which release their untreated effluents into the Chikhali nullah which flows into the river. The companies were issued show cause notices for polluting the river. The presence of chemicals led to the supply of foul smelling water in the city creating panic among citizens. To neutralise the odour of the water, 735 mld of water was released from the Gangapur dam into the river. The release of untreated sewerage into the river from the six nullahs also led to contaminated of water and proliferation of weeds on the river bed.

The NMC supplies 136 mld of water daily in the city and about 1.24 lakh cubic metres of untreated sewerage into the river. The city has no underground sewerage disposal system or treatment plants. The NMC has planned an underground drainage and sewerage disposal system estimated to cost about Rs 72 crore. The project, which has been included in the ambitious Godavari Action Plan is hanging fire for the past six years.