Morna success prompts state to allot funds for river rejuvenation

Nagpur: The success of Akola’s Clean Morna River Campaign has prodded the state government to take up rejuvenation of rivers. In its fourth budget presented in the state legislature on Friday, the BJP-led state government has allotted Rs27 crore for cleaning and beautification of state’s water resources.
Lauding the initiative, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar announced: “On January 13, 2018, citizens and the public representatives came together to clean the Morna River. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised their efforts in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The state government has decided to help this initiative by sanctioning Rs27 crore for the year 2018-19 for cleaning-up and beautification of water resources.”

The river cleaning campaign, initiated by Akola district collector Astik Kumar Pandey on January 13, witnessed participation of more than 7,000 people on its first day. Since then, citizens have been cleaning the river every Saturday.

Expressing his gratitude to the state government, Pandey said that the river cleaning process has reached its final stage now. “We are aiming to complete the first phase of cleaning by March end. In April, we will start the second phase of cleaning drive which will be completed well before the start of monsoon season,” said Pandey.

The detailed project report (DPR) of Morna river will be ready soon and will be submitted to the urban development department for approval following which funds will be released. The authorities plan to use the state’s funds for carrying out initial development works at Morna.

“Development work based on the DPR will begin from March next year. Till then, we plan to use the state funds for basic works like setting-up a sewage treatment plant and making soak-pits. Apart from this, we are beautifying the river bank by constructing ghats,” said Pandey.

He added that work of two gardens and light and sitting arrangements for citizens has also started.

Earlier, local MP Sanjay Dhotre, MLA Randhir Sawarkar and MLA Govardhan Sharma had agreed to shell out Rs15 lakh each from their funds for the river’s development. “In January, a meeting was held in Amravati in which we had presented Morna river’s development plan to the state finance minister. We are going to develop it on the lines of Sabarmati riverfront project,” said Dhotre.

Giving credit to the local authorities and public participation, Sawarkar said, “It is a matter of pride for us that after the Prime Minister, the state government too has lauded our efforts.”

Citizens are hopeful that funds will be utilized productively for river rejuvenation. “Years ago, Morna would be so clean that we could see our reflection in it standing on the overbridge. We are grateful that our campaign is being appreciated and we hope that the government funds are rightfully used for giving us our old Morna,” said social worker Parag Gawai.