MUMBAI: The state cabinet has made it mandatory for thermal power plants and industries in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas to start using treated sewage in three years, to save drinking water being used by industries. It also made it mandatory for urban local bodies (ULBs) within 50km of the such plants and industrial areas to treat sewage up to the tertiary level and supply it to the industries.
Officials said ULBs are treating sewage up to the secondary level, as mandated by environmental norms. Now, they will have to increase the treatment level to tertiary to match the quality of water required for industries. "Once the supply of treated sewage to these industries and thermal power plants begins, their reservation on potable water stands cancelled. Maharashtra is one of the first states to implement such a policy," said principal secretary (urban development department) Manisha Mhaiskar. She added that there is a similar policy for thermal power plants issued by the central government which Maharashtra has extended to MIDC areas.
She said a Rs 132 crore pilot project will be implemented in Navi Mumbai, where 40million litres of potable water being supplied daily to MIDC areas can be diverted to 27 villages under Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) areas, which are facing a water shortage.
Thermal power plants in Solapur and Chandrapur will benefit too as ULBs within 50km of their areas can recycle sewage in a year. The state government will give them monetary aid under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, under which for projects of public utility 50% monetary share is from the central government, 25% from the state and 25% from the urban local body executing the project. Government has given various models for the ULBs to choose from to implement the recycling project: They can execute the project under AMRUT, they can go in for a public-private partnership, or seek funds under AMRUT and funding can be sought through a private player if an urban body is unable to bear its share.
The cost of water will depend on which model the local body has chosen to set up the recycling infrastructure.
Officials said the finance department was apprehensive about the cost to be incurred as the state government's share but the cabinet cleared the proposal.
Officials said ULBs are treating sewage up to the secondary level, as mandated by environmental norms. Now, they will have to increase the treatment level to tertiary to match the quality of water required for industries. "Once the supply of treated sewage to these industries and thermal power plants begins, their reservation on potable water stands cancelled. Maharashtra is one of the first states to implement such a policy," said principal secretary (urban development department) Manisha Mhaiskar. She added that there is a similar policy for thermal power plants issued by the central government which Maharashtra has extended to MIDC areas.
She said a Rs 132 crore pilot project will be implemented in Navi Mumbai, where 40million litres of potable water being supplied daily to MIDC areas can be diverted to 27 villages under Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) areas, which are facing a water shortage.
Thermal power plants in Solapur and Chandrapur will benefit too as ULBs within 50km of their areas can recycle sewage in a year. The state government will give them monetary aid under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, under which for projects of public utility 50% monetary share is from the central government, 25% from the state and 25% from the urban local body executing the project. Government has given various models for the ULBs to choose from to implement the recycling project: They can execute the project under AMRUT, they can go in for a public-private partnership, or seek funds under AMRUT and funding can be sought through a private player if an urban body is unable to bear its share.
The cost of water will depend on which model the local body has chosen to set up the recycling infrastructure.
Officials said the finance department was apprehensive about the cost to be incurred as the state government's share but the cabinet cleared the proposal.
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