[ad_1]
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), while expediting the construction of 11 new sewage treatment plants (STP) has decided to redevelop the existing ones at Bhairoba Nallah and Naidu hospital.
The civic body, with its growing population, currently treats just over half of the 883 MLD sewage water generated in the city before releasing it in river,
According to PMC, a total of 883 MLD sewage is generated in the city and nine STPs having a total capacity of 477 MLD are operational.
“It was realised that the Bhairoba Nallah STP is 20 years old and does not meet the norms of the Pollution Control Board. Thus, it has been decided to demolish the existing 130 MLD capacity STP at Bhairoba Nallah and reconstruct a 200 MLD STP that fulfils all the norms of the pollution board,” said Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar.
Also, the sewage treatment plant near Naidu hospital having a capacity of 115 MLD will not be demolished as it was constructed in 2010. So it will be upgraded with the latest technology, he said.
The civic body estimates its population to reach 57.45 lakh by 2027 and accordingly, prepared a plan for sewage treatment in the city. Thus, a detailed plan to increase sewage treatment capacity by 396 MLD was prepared in 2016 by constructing 11 STPs.
The central government and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the PMC to ensure that the plants operate as per the norms of the pollution control board.
The two plants at Bhairoba Nala and Naidu hospital will cost Rs 300 crore and Rs 75 crore respectively for which a project management consultant is being appointed, Kumar said.
The PMC plans to increase the number of sewage treatment plants in the city from 10 to 29 with a capacity of 1,125 MLD in the coming years. It is in talks with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to get a loan for the new STPs.
[ad_2]
