Water hyacinth chokes Godavari stretch from Holkar bridge to Ramwadi

Nashik: Water hyacinth has again covered the Godavari river stretch from Ahilyabai Holkar bridge upstream to Ramwadi bridge, increasing pollution in the river.

The civic body had cleared water hyacinth from the same stretch last month, but it has reappeared again.

Despite the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) having a trash skimmer machine meant to remove water hyacinth, the civic body has failed to carry out the removal work on a regular basis.

Environmental activist Rajesh Pandit said, “The growth of water hyacinth is caused by mixing of sewage with river water. Untreated sewage discharge into the Godavari is also leading to its spread. The only permanent solution is to stop the release of sewage into the river.”

The NMC is planning to remove the water hyacinth manually by deploying manpower through outsourcing, as a short-term measure.

The issue was also raised during a meeting on Godavari river pollution chaired by Nashik divisional commissioner Praveen Gedam around three months ago. Taking note of the issue, the divisional commissioner had directed the NMC to either procure another trash skimmer machine or carry out manual removal.

Following this, the civic body placed a proposal before the general body for manual cleaning of the river, which was recently approved.

Speaking to reporters, Nashik mayor Himgauri Aaher said the NMC is planning to remove the water hyacinth manually alongside the use of the trash skimmer machine.

NMC commissioner Manisha Khatri said the issue is expected to be resolved once the new sewage treatment plants (STPs) become operational by March 2027.

At present, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) level of treated sewage water from the existing STPs ranges between 20 and 25 mg/litre. However, the BOD level of treated wastewater from the new STPs is expected to be below 5 mg/litre, which is likely to curb the growth of water hyacinth.