NRCD gives nod to ₹2,434-cr river project in Maharashtra

The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) has approved the ₹2,434 crore project of Nag River Pollution Abatement Project the cost of which escalated 65% from ₹1,476.96 crore, largely due to delay and inclusion of GST. The mega project was recently given teh go-ahead after the local MP and Union road transport minister held a meeting with officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), NRCD, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) where the minister directed NRCD to give approval to the revised project cost. Prior to this, the NMC general body had approved the revised project cost in July and submitted it to NRCD. Among others, the minister also directed NRCD officials to complete the process of loan agreement between the Government of India and Japan as soon as possible. NRCD will write a letter to the Department of Economic Affairs, then the loan agreement will be signed, and then start the tendering process for appointing contractors to execute the works. The Centre's share in the project is 60%; the state's is 25%; and the remaining 15% of NMC. JICA will approve the long-term loan to be for shared by the central and state agencies. The project also involves construction of two mini sewage treatment plants (STP) on the Nag river at Mokshadham and on the Pili river at Mankapur by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.