NMC needs additional Rs1,150cr to take care of city’s total sewage

Anjaya Anparthi | TNN | Updated: May 4, 2020, 20:02 IST

As of now, 1,475km sewage network is properly laid. Need is for laying new sewage network of 2,025km (File pic...Read More

Nagpur: Pollution of water bodies and groundwater will continue to some extent even after completion of Rs2,412 crore Nag-Pili Rivers Pollution Abatement Project. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will need more Rs1,150 crore to ensure treatment and reuse of entire city’s sewage.
It has come to fore from budget presented by municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. As per details given in budget copy and information available from NMC officials, the civic body has divided entire city into three zones for sewage collection and disposal — North, Central and South zones. Total sewage network in three zones is around 3,500km. As of now, 1,475km sewage network is properly laid. Need is for laying new sewage network of 2,025km.
The central and state governments had approved NMC’s Nag-Pili Rivers Pollution Abatement Project costing Rs2,412 crore. The centre had approached Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for getting loan for the project.
The project covers North and Central Sewage zones, and not South zone. Sewage network of 1,362.50km will be laid in North and Central Sewage Zones. Also, sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be developed. With all these works, entire sewage of North and Central zones will be collected, treated and reuse. It will also free Nag, Pili rivers, connected water bodies and groundwater from pollution.
South Sewage zone, which requires network of 662.50km and STPs, also need to be taken up. The zone covers all areas of South-West and South constituency. Apart from these areas, Pora river, linked water bodies and groundwater will continue to be polluted.
Pora river ends in Nag river on city’s outskirts. It means Kanhan, Wainganga rivers and Gosikhurd dam will continue to be polluted to some extent.
In prevailing cash-strapped conditions, the NMC cannot take up the project as it will require Rs1,150 crore.
Former mayor and BJP city president Pravin Datke told TOI Maha Vikas Aghadi should sanction South Sewage zone. “Devendra Fadnavis had approved Nag-Pili rivers project during his tenure as chief minister. Union minister Nitin Gadkari had got it sanctioned at central level. Now, it is the responsibility of MVA government’s ministers to get the project approved for city’s development,” he said.
Datke added that Fadnavis and Gadkari had planned to approve South Sewage zone project from centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme but detailed project report (DPR) could not be prepared from the NMC.
“Mundhe too has stressed need for the project. Therefore, being representative of the government, he should get it sanctioned from the state soon,” he said.
Many areas of South-West and South constituencies have complaints about sewage blockage. Also, new areas are coming up in these constituencies. These problems will be resolved if government approves South Sewage zone project.
LET FUNDS FLOW
* City is divided into North, Central and South zones for sewage collection and disposal
* Nag-Pili Rivers Pollution Abatement Project covers North and Central zones
* Government had approved the project costing Rs2,412 crore
* South Sewage zone will require Rs1,150 crore for laying new sewage network of 662.50km and STPs
* Otherwise, Pora river, linked water bodies and groundwater of South-West and South constituencies will continue to get polluted
* Also, Kanhan, Wainganga rivers and Gosikhurd project will continue to be polluted to some extent
* NMC cannot execute the project due to financial crisis
* This project also needs approval from the state and central governments