Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has allocated Rs1.52 crore to clean and rejuvenate 446 public wells across the city, a significant move following the spotlight cast by TOI in its reports on July 14 and August 4 on the neglect of these centuries-old water sources.
A statement from NMC reveals that there are 860 public wells under its jurisdiction, managed by two departments, the water work department (for non-drinking purposes, covering 713 wells) and the health department (breeding of guppy fish, overseeing 134 wells).Thirteen of these wells are currently dry, and NMC plans to use them for groundwater recharge with guidance from the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency, a govt of Maharashtra organisation.
The NMC’s clean-up efforts have been ongoing, with 212 wells cleaned in 2019, 54 in 2020, 79 in 2021, 85 in 2022, and 183 last year. According to NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, the policy mandates that wells are to be cleaned once every three years. This year’s initiative will focus on the 446 wells that have not been cleaned in the past two years.
Chaudhari explained the allocation of Rs1.52 crore will primarily cover desilting of wells and removal of accumulated garbage. “We plan to construct slabs or erect fabricated iron mesh over these wells to prevent them from being used as dumping sites. The aim is to rejuvenate these wells, which will aid in recharging the groundwater table,” he told TOI.
NMC will first float tenders for the desilting work, which is expected to take a couple of months. Chaudhari noted that the cleaning would commence after the monsoon season, as it is not feasible to clean wells during this period. “We have identified 460 wells for this project. This exercise will be a periodic annual endeavour. However, at this stage, we will not engage in deepening the dry wells,” Chaudhari added.
This initiative also intersects with a PIL filed by Sandesh Singalkar, who has raised concerns about the deteriorating environmental conditions and the severe repercussions of groundwater depletion. Represented by lawyer Smita Singalkar, the petition argues that groundwater depletion poses a significant threat to human life, exacerbates climate change, and worsens water scarcity.
Referencing a study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) titled ‘Mapping the Wells of Nagpur City’, the petition highlights that many city wells are dry and have been converted into dumping grounds for non-segregated solid waste.
The NMC’s commitment to revitalising these wells is a crucial step in addressing the city’s environmental challenges. By ensuring proper maintenance and protection of these historic water sources, Nagpur can take significant strides towards sustainable urban development and improved its water management system.
A statement from NMC reveals that there are 860 public wells under its jurisdiction, managed by two departments, the water work department (for non-drinking purposes, covering 713 wells) and the health department (breeding of guppy fish, overseeing 134 wells).Thirteen of these wells are currently dry, and NMC plans to use them for groundwater recharge with guidance from the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency, a govt of Maharashtra organisation.
The NMC’s clean-up efforts have been ongoing, with 212 wells cleaned in 2019, 54 in 2020, 79 in 2021, 85 in 2022, and 183 last year. According to NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, the policy mandates that wells are to be cleaned once every three years. This year’s initiative will focus on the 446 wells that have not been cleaned in the past two years.
Chaudhari explained the allocation of Rs1.52 crore will primarily cover desilting of wells and removal of accumulated garbage. “We plan to construct slabs or erect fabricated iron mesh over these wells to prevent them from being used as dumping sites. The aim is to rejuvenate these wells, which will aid in recharging the groundwater table,” he told TOI.
NMC will first float tenders for the desilting work, which is expected to take a couple of months. Chaudhari noted that the cleaning would commence after the monsoon season, as it is not feasible to clean wells during this period. “We have identified 460 wells for this project. This exercise will be a periodic annual endeavour. However, at this stage, we will not engage in deepening the dry wells,” Chaudhari added.
This initiative also intersects with a PIL filed by Sandesh Singalkar, who has raised concerns about the deteriorating environmental conditions and the severe repercussions of groundwater depletion. Represented by lawyer Smita Singalkar, the petition argues that groundwater depletion poses a significant threat to human life, exacerbates climate change, and worsens water scarcity.
Referencing a study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) titled ‘Mapping the Wells of Nagpur City’, the petition highlights that many city wells are dry and have been converted into dumping grounds for non-segregated solid waste.
The NMC’s commitment to revitalising these wells is a crucial step in addressing the city’s environmental challenges. By ensuring proper maintenance and protection of these historic water sources, Nagpur can take significant strides towards sustainable urban development and improved its water management system.
