Surat, the city that was recently declared the cleanest in India, is facing a major problem of waste being dumped in the Tapi river, its only source of water. The accumulated waste has deteriorated the water quality and created water supply issues for the city’s seven million residents.
The waste includes construction debris and untreated sewage, and is being dumped at multiple locations on the riverbed. Environmentalists have called for increased surveillance and action against those responsible for the dumping.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been working on a project to clean the Tapi river, but these efforts have not been successful in stopping the dumping of waste. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) says it is not directly responsible for solid waste management, but can help if there are complaints.
The issue has been raised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which recently found damaged infrastructure covered in waste at the Tapi riverfront. The AAP has accused the SMC of not being able to maintain its own projects.
Municipal commissioner Shalini Agarwal has said that the SMC will increase surveillance in the riverbed and take action against those responsible for dumping waste.
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