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Water Treatment

MCC-MSEZL accord on sewage treatment plants

Friday, 10 July 2009 12:09 administrator
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The Hindu 10.07.2009

MCC-MSEZL accord on sewage treatment plants

Staff Correspondent

Talks on MoU draft are in final stages: Mayor


TAKING STOCK: Mayor M. Shankar Bhat (third from right) inspecting the compost plant at Pachchanady in Mangalore on Thursday.

MANGALORE: Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said here on Thursday that Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Mangalore Special Economic Zone Ltd (MSEZL) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maintaining four new sewage treatment plants (STPs) and using of water treated at those plants.

Addressing presspersons after visiting a sewage treatment plant at Mullarakadu and the compost plant of the corporation at Pachchanady, along with the officials and councillors, he said that MSEZL had evinced interest in using the water treated at the STPs. He said that talks on preparing the draft of MoU were in the final stages.

The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) has built two STPs for the city corporation at Mullarakadu and Pachchanady. In addition, the KUIDFC is building two more STPs at Jeppinamogaru and Surathkal. The completed STPs are yet to be commissioned and handed over to the city corporation. The Mayor said that the new STPs could be commissioned only after the work of laying the underground drainage pipes (UGD) in the city was completed. Only 50 per cent of the UGD work had been completed, he said.

When the Mayor and his team visited Mullarakadu, Y. Prasad, a processing engineer there, explained to the team members that while treating the sewage water, methane gas would be generated, which could be used for generating electricity. The Mayor said that the compost plant at Pachchanady was operating well. However, the team could see that there was no roof for the room meant for storing inert materials.

Last Updated on Friday, 10 July 2009 12:18
 

Corporation plans more sewerage treatment plants

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:04 administrator
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The New Indian Express 08.07.2009

Corporation plans more sewerage treatment plants

Express News Service

 


KOCHI: In order to address the long-pending needs of Kochi for a better sewerage system, the Kochi Corporation will accelerate the steps being taken for the implementation of the new sewerage project and the renovation of the existing system.

According to Deputy Mayor C K Manisankar, tenders have already been invited for the project. “The new project, at an estimated cost of Rs 74.81 crore, will cover the West Kochi area. Along with the new project, the Corporation will also speed up the renovation of the existing sewerage system,” he said.

Nearly 10 new pump houses are required for the implementation of the projects. The corporation has initiated steps for the land acquisition for these projects, he added.

Manisankar said that the renovation project would strengthen the sewerage system in Elamkulam and nearby areas.

The allocation for the project is Rs 102 crore, which is under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:10
 

Houseboats get the blame for lake pollution

Tuesday, 23 June 2009 05:39 administrator
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Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009

Houseboats get the blame for lake pollution

Staff Reporter

The absence of a treatment plant at Alappuzha contributes to the problem

 


NO POLLUTING: Houseboats on the backwaters of Alappuzha in this file photo.

ALAPPUZHA: Every time there is a public outcry on pollution of water-bodies in Kuttanad, particularly the Vembanad Lake, the 600-odd houseboats operating in the region are among the first to be blamed.

However, a close look at the ground reality reveals that though there is no denying the role of the houseboats in pollution, there are a few others too who have an indirect but definite share of the blame.

It is a well-known fact that only around 100 of the 600-plus houseboats operating in the Vembanad Lake and the surrounding canals and rivers have valid Pollution Control Certificates (PCC) since they have onboard sewage treatment facilities.

The rest, who should have registered themselves with Government sewage treatment plants for obtaining the PCC, have not been able to do so since the treatment plant at Alappuzha is still on paper.

Though this has been repeatedly raised at several public platforms by environmentalists and various other quarters, calling for speedy completion of the treatment plant at Punnamada in Alappuzha, work is yet to begin on the plant.

There have been no takers for the tenders issued by the District Tourism Promotion Council for the project that was sanctioned more than two years back, according to official sources.

Interestingly, the delay in the establishment of the sewage plant has not stopped houseboat owners from paying the requisite fee for the PCC to the local Pollution Control Board office, or the officials from receiving the fees.

“It is not our fault that the Government has failed to set up the plant. We have paid the fees, it is up to them to complete the plant and register us,” reasons a houseboat owner here.

The fee receipt is brandished whenever the PCC is asked for.

The case of the canal licence, which along with the PCC and a fitness certificate, is necessary for houseboats to conduct operations, is similar.

The PCC is mandatory for the canal licence to be issued. But here too, officials have received the requisite fee for the canal licence, reasoning that houseboat owners have paid for the PCC and are waiting for completion of the treatment plant to obtain it.

“It all boils down to the delay in setting up the treatment plant. Once that is done, there can be stringent action on those operating without the PCC. Till then, it is a case of mutual understanding,” an official explains.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 05:48
 
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