Ranchi Selected for Urban River Management Plan Under Namami Gange

Ranchi: The state capital has been selected as one of 60 cities across the country for the urban river management plan (URMP) being developed under the Namami Gange programme.

To take the project forward, a specialised team from the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) will visit the city for a detailed survey next month.

Sanjay Kumar, additional administrator of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), said that the team will hold a meeting with city officials on April 16 to discuss a specific plan of action.

Ahead of the team’s visit, a primary orientation meeting for formulation of the plan was chaired by municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav, attended by representatives from various govt departments.

“Before the central team arrives, we have to conduct a basic survey, including geo-tagging of all water bodies and rivers, capturing the catchment area, and identifying encroachments, among other factors. The entire process will take around 10 days,” Kumar said.

Gaurav directed all departments and agencies concerned, including RMC, JUIDCO, JIADA, state pollution control board and water resources department, to ensure seamless data collection and coordination.

He said, “All necessary figures and information should be provided in a timely manner to expedite the planning process and ensure the sustainable development of Ranchi’s water bodies.”

Under Namami Gange programme, URMPs are being prepared for 60 cities along the Ganga basin, including Ranchi. The plan will focus on holistic management, conservation and rejuvenation of the city’s major rivers and water bodies.

In Ranchi, the project will concentrate on the Harmu river, the urban stretches of the Subarnarekha, and various ponds and lakes across the city landscape.

During the meeting, key observations from recent site inspections were shared, highlighting several major bottlenecks including mixed flow of stormwater and sewage into rivers, heavy accumulation and illegal dumping of solid waste at various locations and non-functional sewage treatment plants (STPs) at several critical sites. Issues, including widespread encroachment and physical obstructions on the riverbanks, eutrophication and pollution within reservoirs and siltation, encroachment, and waste inflow affecting smaller water bodies, were also discussed.

Officials held discussions regarding the current capacity and operational status of existing STPs and explored the potential for the reuse of treated wastewater to promote sustainability.

Deliberations were also held on several vital components of URMP, including regulation and conservation of floodplains, making rivers pollution-free, and the rejuvenation of neglected water bodies. The proposed plan includes the regulation of floodplains, making rivers pollution-free, development of eco-friendly riverfronts, and the creation of riparian buffers to bolster biodiversity.