Govt forms panel for Gangua rejuvenation plan

Bhubaneswar: A high-level coordination committee has been formed by state govt to oversee and implement the rejuvenation plan for Gangua nullah, aiming to improve its water quality and transform it into a developed urban wetland.
An order was issued by the water resources department recently intimating the formation of the "Gangua Coordination Committee", which comprises 10 members from different stakeholder agencies of the govt.
"In view of the rapid expansion of Bhubaneswar and the increasing need to address urban flooding under extreme weather conditions, the renovation and rejuvenation of Gangua nullah is deemed essential," the order read.
It states that the initiative aims to ensure effective stormwater drainage for the city, improve water quality and enhance the aesthetic and functional value of Gangua nullah as a developed urban wetland.
As per the order, the committee is headed by the engineer-in-chief of the water resources department, while it includes one nodal officer each from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) as members.
The committee also includes a nodal officer each from Water Corporation of Odisha, Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and the forest, environment and climate change, tourism and energy departments.
The order also specifies the committee will coordinate with all the stakeholders, review the development plan with available data, and convene periodic meetings once a week or fortnightly.
"The committee may invite additional members from the govt or other institutions working in this domain as special invitees with the approval of the chairman of the committee," the order read.
Water quality of the Gangua nullah has degraded over a period of time as all the sewerage water of the city flows into it along with those of 11 natural drainage channels.
With the situation a cause for worry, state authorities have shifted their focus to renovating and rejuvenating the Gangua nullah. The authorities also roped in multiple agencies, including IIT Roorkee, and a reputed engineering firm, recently to help devise the rejuvenation plan for Gangua.
"Not only Gangua, the Daya river, which ultimately receives the wastewater through Gangua, is equally polluted. Authorities need to look after the overall scenario and come up with a comprehensive rejuvenation plan," environmentalist Sailabala Padhi said.