WRD starts work on 10 new gates on Nandurmadhmeshwar weir

Nashik: The water resources department (WRD) has started constructing 10 additional gates on the Nandurmadhmeshwar weir in order to avoid flooding of Godvari river during heavy rainfall.According to a WRD official, heavy rains in 2018 caused flooding of the Godavari river and owing to which a few of the villages situated on the backwaters of the Nandurmmadhmeshwar weir were inundated. The situation turned grim requiring air lifting of some people who were trapped in the floodwater."The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) conducted a survey of the area and suggested construction of a few more gates in addition to the eight gates that are already there. This will help release more water from the weir," a senior WRD official said while speaking to TOI.The Nandurmadhmeshwar weir was constructed by the British in 1910, but there were no gates on the weir. It was constructed primarily to lift water released from upstream and divert it to the dry areas of Nashik, Ahilanagar, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts through a network of canals. This network of canals exists even today, providing drinking water to these areas and also water for irrigation."Work on the construction of 10 additional gates at a cost of Rs170 crore has started and is likely to be completed in another year. We expect the system to be in place by the 2027 monsoon, which is also the time when Simhastha Kumbh Mela will be held in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar," the official said."The additional gates will ensure there is no repeat situation like 2018," the official added.