Pune river rejuvenation project gets Rs 690 cr in Union Budget, PMC to seek more funds to upgrade sewage treatment plants

The project involves building 11 sewage treatment plants in different parts of Pune and laying a 53.5 km sewage line to prevent the release of untreated sewage water into the Mula-Mutha river.

Work on the project started in March 2022 after overcoming technical glitches in the administrative process, including land acquisition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project. (File Photo)

The long-awaited river rejuvenation project in Pune is finally gaining momentum as the Centre has allocated Rs 690 crore in the Union Budget to tackle pollution in the Mula-Mutha river. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is also upgrading and modernising six of the nine existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

The project, funded by the Japan Investment Cooperative Authority (JICA), was approved by the Centre in 2016. It involved the construction of 11 sewage treatment plants in different parts of the city and the laying of a 53.5 km sewage line to prevent the release of untreated sewage water into the river.

The city produces approximately 980 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage water. To address the treatment capacity shortfall, the 11 sewage plants will be equipped with an additional capacity worth 396 MLD.

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“The Pune civic body has spent Rs 415.98 crore but has only received Rs. 250.45 crore from the Centre so far. Around 50 per cent of the work on 10 STPs has been completed,” said a civic officer. “The project must be completed by March next year according to the deadline,” he said. He emphasised the urgent need for funds allocated by the Union government for the project.

Meanwhile, the PMC has proposed modernising the six existing STPs, which have a total capacity of 477 MLD, to meet the parameters set by the Pollution Control Board.

“It is difficult to achieve the parameters set for treated sewage water in the six existing STPs. A study undertaken for the purpose has recommended upgradation and modernisation of the STPs,” said Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale. He said the estimated cost of upgrading and modernising the STP units is Rs 840.84 crore. Therefore, the PMC is requesting funds from the Centre under the AMRUT scheme.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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Union Budget 2024