NMC’s 5 Crore Push To Clean City Rivers

Nagpur: With more than half the work already completed, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has placed a 4.98cr proposal before the standing committee for its ongoing ‘River Cleanliness Campaign 2026', aimed at desilting and clearing major city rivers.The proposal, to be discussed in the May 8 meeting convened by standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani, focuses on mechanised cleaning of Nag, Pili and Pora rivers — a key public health and flood mitigation measure ahead of the monsoon.Civic officials informed that of the total 49.16km river stretch identified under the drive, 26.28km (53.45%) has already been cleaned as of April 15. Work on the remaining 22.88km is currently underway, with the administration targeting around 80% completion by April-end and full completion by May 15.To expedite the process, the NMC has deployed 21 machines, including 20 hired poclain excavators and one log boom machine. The total projected expenditure of 4.98 crore (including GST) covers the period from March 1 to May 15. Officials said the use of heavy machinery has significantly improved the pace of desilting, which is critical to prevent waterlogging, reduce pollution levels and ensure smoother flow in the rivers during the rainy season.The proposal also notes that if the work is not completed by the deadline, the civic body may explore additional machinery through CSR support or redeploy existing equipment being used for drain cleaning. A second-phase proposal could also be brought after a review.