Massive clean-up drive at Nandini river in Nashik

Nashik: In a major push towards river conservation ahead of Kumbh Mela, a massive clean-up drive was carried out at Nandini river, a tributary of Godavari, across multiple locations in the city on Thursday to mark the World Environment Day.The initiative, led by state water resources and Kumbh mela minister Girish Mahajan, witnessed large-scale public participation.Over 15,000 residents and volunteers joined the drive at around 13 key sites on the 16 km stretch of the Nandini river in Nashik city, while the campaign drew participation from thousands of residents, including social organisations, students, civic staff and citizen groups.Clean-up activities were conducted simultaneously at several stretches of the river, from its origin to the confluence with the Godavari, focusing on removal of plastic waste, garbage and debris from the riverbed. Around 50 tonnes of waste were collected from the Nandini river during a clean up drive on Friday, said NMC officials.Mahajan actively participated in the drive, visiting multiple locations and interacting with volunteers. He said that river cleaning must go beyond symbolic campaigns and become a sustained public movement.“Protecting rivers is a collective responsibility, and the response seen during the clean-up drive reflects public commitment towards environmental conservation,” he said, adding that similar drives would be undertaken every three months.The minister also highlighted ongoing measures to curb river pollution ahead of the Kumbh Mela, including sewage treatment, as well as projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore aimed at improving water quality in the Godavari basin.The campaign also focused on generating awareness about plastic-free surroundings, water conservation and eco-friendly practices. Participation from youths and students was particularly notable, signalling increasing public engagement in environmental issues.Officials said the large turnout and coordinated effort across locations marked a significant step towards restoring the health of the Nandini river and strengthening broader initiatives to ensure clean rivers and a sustainable urban ecosystem in Nashik.Nashik mayor Himgauri Aaher, deputy mayor Vilas Shinde, standing committee chairman of NMC Machhindra Sanap, among others, were present during the Nandini river clean-up drive.Firearm found during river cleanliness driveState minister Girish Mahajan was present at the site when the weapon was discovered. It was immediately brought to his attention, and under his guidance, the local police were alerted. Officers subsequently took custody of the firearm to initiate the necessary legal procedures.Senior police inspector (PI) Srinivas Deshmukh of Mumbai Naka police station stated, “Given the rusted condition of the firearm, it appears someone may have dumped it two to three years ago. It looks more like an air gun. Since the weapon was not found in anyone’s possession, no case has been registered so far, and it has been seized as an unclaimed object.”The Mumbai Naka police added that they will be sending the weapon to a forensic laboratory for further examination -- Santosh Sonawane