Plight of water bodies and citizens in Nagpur

Water water everywhere, not a drop to drink. Why?

Staff Reporter
Nagpur has got nine major water bodies, at least six ponds, two rivers, and several streams. This is not a finding based on historic records. This is what the latest map of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) shows. The map, prepared as part of disaster management initiative, is an admission that the city has so many water sources. Then, a common Nagpurian is left perplexed as to why the city has to depend upon Pench irrigation project for water supply. 
To this seemingly simple question, the answer is not available with the civic authorities. For, over the years, the so-called authorities -- irrespective of names -- have never paid heed to do a long-term planning and execute with in a time-bound programme so that water availability through resources within the city suffice the city’s projected growth in a sustainable manner. For, over the years, one after another all the representatives elected from various nooks and corners of over-300-year-old city did not think of growth of the city as a whole. For, over the years, these elected representatives actually molested, abused, and then neglected the city’s water resources.
For, over the years, these elected representatives did not think of integrating and harmonising the efforts of various agencies towards proper conservation of water bodies and rivers and streams. For, over the years, the elected representatives were happy ransacking the offices of the civic body demanding deployment of more tankers. For, over the years, even the people of this great city did not hold responsible the representatives they elected, for such a mess of water system management. Everyone, right from the designers of those flashy and cosmetic PR campaigners to those who proclaimed Nag river to be their mother, is party to the criminal neglect and abuse of various components of city’s water system.

Map of water bodies in Nagpur city

As a result, many parts of the city face water scarcity every summer. Many areas of the city get inundated in the event of heavy rainfall. Despite horizontal growth of the city, the civic body is unable to lay pipelines to supply water to newly developed areas. Wherever it has laid network of pipelines, it has failed in getting it charged with water. At regular intervals, NMC has to approach Water Resources Department of the State Government and get increased the allocation of water from Pench reservoir to the city.
While claiming that the city is an upcoming metro and preparing maps with so many water bodies, the civic authorities conveniently forget the need to plan for utilisation of water from the system available within city. Instead, they are happy spending crores of rupees on ‘projects’ like Pench-I, Pench-II, Pench-III, Pench-IV. They are happy incurring the cost of laying pipelines for a long distance and bringing water from Pench reservoir, instead of correcting the course of urban planning to ensure cost-effective and water-surplus model based on proper conservation and utilisation of water system within the city. And, this is painful for Nagpurians who love the city they live in. This is shameful for those who have been neglecting this crucial aspect for years together.
Though the younger generation does not know about utility of water bodies in the city, there are scores of elders who had seen crystal clear water in these water systems. Many swam in lakes, streams, and Nag and Pili rivers. Many remember gargling with the water from Nag river. There are many who enjoyed the early mornings and evenings watching the fading sunrays joyfully riding the flow of Nag and Pili rivers. Also, there are people who know that water from lakes in the city was used for drinking purposes and need for tankers was not felt. Countless many residing in the areas near these water bodies and streams also remember that wells in the courtyard of their houses had healthy level.
Even the records tell how water from this very currently deteriorating system was put in place with a vision to satiate thirst and suffice the need of population of Nagpur city. The Bhonsla rulers had created several water bodies with a vision to serve the growing population and expanding city. These were created in different directions of the city. British rulers also utilised the water system carefully. For instance, they built Gorewada reservoir on Pili river originating from a village near Dabha, to ensure water supply to Civil Lines area. This system is alive today. However, other reservoirs and resources have not been so fortunate. From Ambazari lake, water was supplied to the city areas. Later, water from it was diverted to industrial units in MIDC area.
As far as present condition of smaller water bodies is concerned, the city’s population, including its leadership, is to be blamed. How can one explain green weeds covering Naik Talao almost fully? How can one explain shrinking of Lendi Talao to an extent that can be termed as ‘verge of extinction’? How can one explain Sakkardara, Sonegaon, Gandhisagar lakes getting polluted and being used as places to dump garbage? Aren’t people to be blamed for this? These lakes can be rejuvenated even today. However, that requires a massive plan, planning, and vision. Lake rejuvenation is one of those areas that require deeper thought and understanding of lake structure, location, streams charging them, drainage, elevation, biological growth, silt etc.
The civic body and entities with suspect motives clamouring about half-hearted and poorly executed cleaning drive of Nag river, do not think of these many aspects for sure. Otherwise, they would not have termed annual pre-monsoon cleaning drive (that is conducted for the sake of showing that the civic body is gearing up for monsoon) as ‘the’ change. Merely taking oath with fist placed on own chest makes no proclamation of commitment. The commitment has to come from the bottom of the heart, without expectation of cheap publicity, and absolute dedication to the cause. Else, all the activities for the sake of posterity prove to be ‘the drive that was never’.
Is this what we, the Nagpurians, want to happen to the cause of revival of the city’s water systems? It is never too late to start taking steps in right direction, with deeper thought to the issue.

(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on July 15, 2013, as part of Reality Check series)