Nashik's Water Crisis: 13-Year Battle Against Darna Dam Contamination Continues
For over a decade, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has been grappling with a persistent water contamination issue at the Chehedi weir of the Darna dam. This ongoing problem has severely hampered the civic body's ability to regularly lift 52 million litres per day (MLD) of water for the Nashik Road division, forcing increased dependence on the already strained Gangapur dam.
Persistent Pollution in the Waldevi River
The core of the issue lies in polluted sewage that continues to flow into the Waldevi river, a tributary of the Godavari. This contamination directly affects water near the NMC's jackwell at Chehedi, making it unsuitable for regular supply. As a result, the civic body is frequently compelled to suspend water lifting operations from the weir, creating significant disruptions in water supply to the Nashik Road division. Meanwhile, other parts of the city rely on alternative sources from the Gangapur and Mukane dams.
Failed Proposals Over 13 Years
Multiple attempts to address this critical issue have fallen short over the past 13 years. In 2013, the NMC proposed laying separate sewerage lines to prevent sewage from entering the Waldevi river, but this plan never materialized. Six years later, in 2019, then mayor Satish Kulkarni ordered the construction of a new jackwell upstream of the Chehedi weir, yet this initiative also remained on paper.
Last year, the civic body floated another proposal for a direct pipeline to supply water from the Darna dam to the city's water treatment plant. However, this project failed to gain momentum as it was not approved under the AMRUT scheme and did not receive necessary clearance from the Kumbh Mela Authority.
New Directions from Mayor Himgauri Aher
Taking note of this prolonged inaction, current mayor Himgauri Aher has now issued fresh directives to the civic administration. She has ordered the construction of a copper dam at Chehedi to prevent contaminated water from reaching the jackwell and to ensure regular lifting of the crucial 52 MLD water supply. Additionally, Mayor Aher has instructed officials to lay a separate sewage pipeline of approximately 100 meters to divert wastewater away from the Waldevi river.
Political Pressure for Immediate Solutions
The issue gained renewed attention during the municipal corporation's general body meeting when senior corporator Sudhakar Badgujar raised concerns about the continued failure to utilize the Chehedi water source. Badgujar criticized the administrative delays and demanded immediate solutions, specifically advocating for the installation of a copper dam.
Badgujar emphasized that regular lifting of 52 MLD water from Chehedi would not only resolve water scarcity in the Nashik Road division but would also significantly reduce pressure on the Gangapur dam. This, in turn, would help stabilize water supply across the entire city, addressing a critical infrastructure challenge that has persisted for more than a decade.
Mayor Aher reiterated the urgent need to prevent contamination near the jackwell and directed officials to expedite the proposed works. The success of these new initiatives remains to be seen as Nashik continues its battle against water contamination that has plagued the city's supply system for over thirteen years.
