Nashik, a major city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, is also its administrative headquarters. Although it is popular for the grapes that are grown in the regions and has been nicknamed “the city of grapes”, the city also has other nicknames. One of them is the “City of Checkboxes” and the other is that it is known as the “Wine Capital of India”. Another event that makes the city of Nashik so popular around the world is that it is the destination for the “Sinhastha Kumbh Mela” or the “Purna Mela” which is held once every 12 years and the next event will be held in 2015.
Nashik is important to the country in different ways. First of all, it is one of the cities in India that is developing rapidly and, according to the study by a Global Foundation, it is ranked 16th on the list of developing cities. Second, it is highly significant from a religious point of view, as Lord Rama, the Hindu god, is believed to have spent 14 years in exile in Nashik, on the banks of the Godavari River, where the city is located. Third, the city has been under the rule of very important rulers in the history of India and thus the city reflects some of the influences left behind by each and every ruler. Finally, and most importantly, the Administration in Nashik has been very proactive and dynamic and has played a very important role in the current development and progress of Nasik.
Nashik District and the Maharashtra State Revenue Division are headquartered in Nashik and the city is under the administration of the Nasik Municipal Corporation, popularly known as NMC. Today, the Nashik Municipal Corporation is dedicated to turning the city into a well-planned city with all essential infrastructure at the disposal of its citizens. With the formulation of the City Development Plan, NMC has developed an infrastructure for sustainable water supply.
In addition to the water supply, two major plans have been drawn up and implemented to favorably impact the environment. One is the institutionalization of the solid waste management system in which the introduction of the “Ghantagadi” (a vehicle with a hood) that is responsible for collecting the waste and dumping it in an area where the Nashik municipal corporation has made it possible to convert waste into fertilizer. This area is located in Pandav Leni.
The second project is in the rainwater catchment area. No construction completion certification is provided unless facilities to collect rainwater are built. Every building must have the rainwater harvesting system in place. This implementation is an attempt to raise the groundwater level and help reactivate natural aquifers.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation today faces a number of challenges, but despite these challenges, the corporation has established a vision that is “A clean and green city that provides access to good quality basic urban services for all citizens and promotes the industrial development to provide ample employment opportunity. ” The NMC’s mission is to ensure that all citizens have access to all the facilities they provide and also to realize their vision.