Guardian Minister Dr. Wuike Inspects Erai River Deepening Work Instructions Given to Speed Up the Project

Chandrapur – The deepening work of the Erai River, considered the lifeline of Chandrapur city, has been undertaken with the cooperation of all stakeholders. To inspect the progress of the project, Dr. Ashok Wuike, Minister for Tribal Development and Guardian Minister of Chandrapur district, visited the riverbed where the excavation is currently underway. District Collector Vinay Gawda G.C., Municipal Commissioner Vipin Paliwal, Sub-Divisional Officer Sanjay Pawar, Tehsildar Vijay Pawar, and officials from relevant departments were present during the inspection.

The deepening work on the 9-kilometre-long stretch of the Erai River flowing parallel to Chandrapur city officially began on April 25, 2025. While appreciating the planning efforts by the district administration, the Guardian Minister stressed the need to accelerate the pace of work and complete all planned tasks by the end of the current month. He also mentioned that river silt is being distributed free of cost to farmers. So far, 400 brass (a local unit of volume) of silt has been distributed, and the minister directed that priority be given to farmers who have applied for it.

In the first phase, work is ongoing near the Amusement Park and behind Maharshi School, between Ram Setu and Chaurala Bridge. As of now, 350 meters of river deepening has been completed near the Amusement Park and 120 meters behind Maharshi School, totaling 470 meters of excavation. Currently, the workforce includes 8 poclain machines, 13 Hyva tippers, 20 tractors, and 1 JCB, which have helped excavate 7,500 brass of silt from the riverbed. Of this, 400 brass has already been distributed to farmers.

The deepening and widening of the riverbed will be undertaken along a 17-kilometre stretch from Chandrapur city to the confluence of the Erai and Wardha rivers. This includes the removal of excessive vegetation and accumulated silt. The initiative is expected to enhance the flood-carrying capacity of the river, thereby reducing the annual flood risk faced by the city.

The deepening will be executed in three phases:

1. Phase 1: Ram Setu to Chaurala Bridge
2. Phase 2: Mana Tekdi (Lalpeth Colliery)
3. Phase 3: From Erai to the confluence with the Wardha River