PMC unable to start ₹1,000 crore Mula Mutha river development project

The ₹1,000 crore project for Mula Mutha River Development was approved by the central government in January 2016, yet the project has failed to kick-start as the central government has failed to appoint a consultant for preparing the tender document. The PMC will execute this project with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Pune BJP MP Anil Shirole acknowledged that the project has failed to kick-start despite getting a nod in January 2016. “I recently took an update from PMC officials about the JICA project. I am going to raise this issue in the coming parliament session. If there are some hurdles, we will sort them out,” he said.”

The water and sewage department head V J Kulkarni said that they are waiting for the appointment of the consultant which is supposed to be done by the central government. Almost one and half year have passed since getting all the permissions but the civic body has not able to begin the work. The ruling BJP and the previous Congress-NCP alliance have been taking credit for this ₹1,000 crore project as it was submitted during Congress tenure and the approval came in when BJP was ruling at the centre.

The Mula Mutha river which is passing through Pune city is one of the 302 polluted rivers in the country. Discharge of untreated domestic waste into the river due to inadequate sewage treatment facilities are among the major reasons for the pollution in this river. A loan agreement was signed on 13th June 2016 with JICA for pollution abatement of river by January 2022. Under the agreement, the government of Japan 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.

Project Details

Augmentation of Existing Sewage Treatment Capacity by adding new 11 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.

For collection of untapped sewage – laying of 113.6 Kms of sewers with house connection & laterals.

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.

Construction of 24 Community Toilets in slum areas to check open defecation along the river banks.

Institution development and Capacity Building.

Facilitation of Public Awareness Programs.

Main objective

To improve water quality and river ecology as well as stoppage of pollution of river Mula -Mutha.

To intercept, divert and treat the domestic sewage generated discharging in the river.

To tackle the non-point sources of pollution to improve the hygienic condition of city and surrounding areas and aesthetics of river front.

Institutional strengthening and capacity building & Public Awareness for sustainability of Projects.

Funding Pattern

Govt. of India – 85% – Rs 841.72 Crore

Pune Municipal Corporation – 15% – Rs. 148.54 Crore

Total: Rs. 990.26 Crore