Rs 96 crore clean-up plan for Aji river

 RMC, in its primary report for the Aji river, has put the project cost at Rs 96.70 crore.

 J P Gupta, Rajkot district collector and commissioner of RMC, said after the successful purification of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, the ministry had prepared a list of rivers which have to be purified.

 These rivers include: Gomti, Sabarmati, Vishwamitry Tapi and Mahi of Gujarat.

 Aji river was not included in this list, which remains dry for five-six months of the year.

 According to Gupta, of the Rs 96.70 crore, Centre has been requested to contribute 70 per cent of the cost, 20 per cent by the state government and the rest from RMC.

 An estimated Rs 63 crore has been set aside to complete an underground drainage line and filtration of 750 lakh gallons of drainage water, and to increase the capacity of sewage treatment plant and pumping stations.

 The corporation has also earmarked Rs 33.70 crore to set up picnic spots along the river.

 Also, the depth of the 9.60 km long and 185 metre broad Aji river will be dug deep for the storage of water.

 Protection walls will be built on both the banks of the river at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. Four check dams will be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.50 crore.

 Three park gardens, two community halls and three open market centers will be built up along the banks of the river at Rs two crore.