After 18 months, Rs. 1,000 cr Mula-Mutha river development project to take off by September 15
The Mula Mutha river which passes through Pune city is one of the 302 polluted rivers in the country.
Pune municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar on Monday said that the ambitious ₹1,000 crore Mula-Mutha River Development Project that has been stalled for nearly 18 months is expected to get a go-ahead by September 15.
Reported by Hindustan Times on July 16, the project has been stalled as the Centre was unable to appoint a consultant. Soon after the report, BJP MP Anil Shirole convened a meeting with the PMC commissioner for an update on the status of the project and to understand the reasons for the delay. Shirole told HT that the process for appointing a consultant had begun in the Centre “and it is expected that the consultant will be appointed by August-end. The project is likely to begin by September 15.”
PMC commissioner Kunal Kumar also confirmed that the process of appointing a consultant was underway and in all likelihood, the project will take off after two months.
The Mula Mutha river which passes through Pune city is one of the 302 polluted rivers in the country. The discharge of untreated domestic waste into the river due to inadequate sewage treatment facilities is among the major reasons for the high level of pollution in this river.
The overall goal of the project is to improve the water quality and river ecology and prevent the pollution of the Mula Mutha river. The project involves the interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage generated and discharged in the river. Institutional strengthening, capacity building and public awareness for sustainability of projects are among the other goals of this project. The project includes augmentation of sewage treatment capacity in a comprehensive manner and construction of 24 community toilets in slum areas to check open defecation along the river banks.
It was on June 13, 2016 that the PMC signed a loan agreement with JICA for pollution control measures by January 2022. Under the agreement, the government of Japan is committed to provide a soft loan of ₹1,000 crore to India for the project at an interest rate of 0.30 percentage per annum.
BOX 1 : Project Details
•Augmentation of Existing Sewage Treatment Capacity by adding 11 new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to cover sewage generation upto year 2027.
•New STPs to be designed for better effluent quality with 10 mg/L BOD & 10 mg/L TSS along with nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
•Augmentation of exiting 4 Intermediate pumping stations.
•Laying of 113.6 Kms of sewers with house connection & laterals for collection of untapped sewage
•Installation of centralized SCADA for STPs and IPS to monitor flow and effluent water quality.
•Implementation of GIS/MIS system for management of assets created under the project.
BOX-2 : Funding Pattern
Govt. of India: 85% – Rs 841.72 Crore
Pune Municipal Corporation: 15% – Rs. 148.54 Crore
Total: Rs. 990.26 Crore