The second phase of work for the rejuvenation of Harmu River is likely to commence in another two months. With the completion of first phase, Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (JUIDCO) is now working on preparing the detailed project report for the second phase.
The major work in the second phase would be construction of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) at those places where drains directly connect to the river.
An official of JUIDCO said on the condition of anonymity, “When the DPR for the first phase was prepared, there were around a dozen major drains connected to the river but since then around 50 more small and big drains have cropped up.”
He added, “In second phase we will tap down all these drains and construct STPs accordingly.”
A contract was signed between state urban development department and a Mumbai based private company, Eagle Infra India Ltd on February 25, 2015 for the rejuvenation of river. The work, since then, is being jointly done by JUIDCO and the private company.
Harmu river stretches to 17.5 kilometres across city out of which 10.5 Kms is in the urban area. The rejuvenation project had nine major components including gabion work, storm water drain, sewer network, sewerage treatment plant, pathway and much more.
The JUIDCO official informed that seven STPs were constructed in the first phase along with construction of pathway, installation of solar lamps, low cost sanitation toilets and benches along with a grand plantation drive under which 10,000 samplings have already been planted on the banks of the river.
“We are organising another plantation drive on Wednesday. We have also tied up with some corporate companies like L&T and Tata for plantation and maintenance of saplings on the banks of Harmu river for a few years,” the official said.
However, the department has more challenges than just completion of the construction and plantation work.
An official of JUIDCO said, “Lack of public awareness is proving to be a major hurdle in the path of rejuvenation of the river. People living around the river are regularly throwing garbage, especially polythene, in the river which is leading to pollution.”
Another major concern is that some miscreants are damaging the saplings planted on the banks by plucking away leaves and stems.
The official said, “We are constructing netted barricading on the nine bridges on the river to ensure that people do not throw the garbage from there. Public awareness is a must if we want the river to be rejuvenated and we are going to organise an awareness drive for that. Also, if the city gets a comprehensive solid waste management plan people might be discouraged from throwing garbage in the river.”