The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step towards making the Godavari River—revered as the ‘Dakshin Ganga’ (Southern Ganges) and regarded as the cultural, spiritual and economic lifeline of the state—free from pollution.
Government Directive for Detailed Project Report
The State Water Resources Department (WRD) has directed the Environment and Climate Change Department to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the permanent rejuvenation of the Godavari, modelled on the Centre’s ‘Namami Gange’ programme.
Rajya Sabha MP from Nanded, Ajeet Gopchade, who has been pursuing the issue with both the Central and state governments for the past two years, said the project would be incorporated into the State River Conservation Scheme and taken up for implementation immediately after the DPR is finalised.
Strict Regulations and Monitoring
“Under the comprehensive rejuvenation project for Godavari River, strict and time-bound regulations will be enforced to preserve the sanctity of the River, ensuring that no Urban Local Body situated along its banks discharges any untreated sewage or industrial chemical effluent into the riverbed. Across the entire river basin, Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), modern monitoring mechanisms, and legal enforcement frameworks will be strengthened,” he said.
Gopchade said a key objective of the project is to ensure that the waters of the Godavari remain pure and pristine for devotees and tourists visiting sacred sites along its banks.
“One of the key objectives of the rejuvenation project is to ensure that the waters of the Godavari are available in a completely pure, holy, and pristine state for devotees and tourists of all faiths visiting the sacred sites along the riverbanks, enabling them to perform ritualistic holy dips.
“The rejuvenation project has not only national but also global significance. It will be executed with the help of the Ministry of Jal Shakti of the Centre and Maharashtra government in a time-bound manner,” he said.
Previous Conservation Efforts
Earlier, under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), the Centre supported the revival of the Godavari through sewage treatment projects with capacities of 26 MLD in Nanded, 100 MLD in Nashik and 1 MLD in Trimbakeshwar.
Water rights activist Abhijeet Dhanorkar welcomed the initiative, saying a pollution-free Godavari would benefit multiple sectors.
“The River is aptly called as lifeline for Marathwada as it provides water for drinking, agriculture and industrial among other needs. If the river becomes free from pollution, stakeholders from all these fields will benefit besides environmental benefits,” he said.
Originating at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, the Godavari is Maharashtra’s largest river, stretching 1,465 km, with a substantial portion of its basin located within the state.
