The Times of India            13.12.2013

NMC to increase STP capacity by March 2014

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is releasing untreated sewage into Godavari river, is expected to revamp its sewage disposal system by March 2014.

The city gets around 390 million litres per day (MLD) drinking water, of which sewage of around 240 MLD is generated. The NMC is treating 200 MLD sewage, while the remaining 40 MLD is released in Godavari River. The civic body is to increase the treatment capacity 310 MLD by March 2014.

Municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare said, "We have started planning for the drinking water and sewage treatment of the city, considering the population growth by the year 2022 and 2036. Presently, the NMC has six sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city with joint capacity of 200 MLD. Presently, we are unable to treat sewage of 40 MLD. But we have started working on increasing the sewage treatment capacity."

He added, "We are in the process of adding a new sewage treatment capacity of 110 MLD by March 2014, that will increase the total sewage treatment capacity from present 200 MLD to 310 MLD. The sewage treatment capacity of 70 MLD is to be added by December end, while rest is to be added by March 2014. Apart from this, we are also planning to build new STP at Pimpalgaon Khamb, near city with a sewage treatment capacity of 32 MLD. We are taking efforts to get the land for this proposed STP. The work of the STP will begin once we acquire the land."

The pollution in Godavari river has become a matter of concern for the NMC in the runup to the Kumbh. Nashik is one of the four major cities in the country where Kumbh mela is held after every 12 years. The forthcoming Kumbh mela is scheduled in 2015.

Accordingly, the NGO Godavari Gatarikarn Virodhi Manch and Nashik Godavari Purohit Sangh have sought the NMC as well as the district administration to make the rive pollution free. The Godavari Gatarikaran Virodhi Mach has already moved the high court against the NMC for releasing sewage in Godavari and thereby causing river pollution. The court too has directed the NMC to take measures to make the river pollution free as per the suggestions of the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).

Khandare further added, "We have made some boats operational in Godavari to clean the river by collecting nirmalya and other solid waste. We have already made the river free of hyacinth. Moreover, we have also appointed to NGOs to collect 'nirmalya' at Ramkund. We have also put there large steel-made utensil for the collection of nirmalya there."