The Times of India 25.04.2013
Mundhwa facility to let treated water into canal
PUNE: The standing committee of the Pune municipal corporation
(PMC) recently approved the lifting of 6.5 thousand million cubic feet
(TMC) treated water from the river and letting it into the Mutha canal
for irrigation. The project at Mundhwa will include a jack well, a
pumping station and a recycling plant at a cost of Rs 31 crore.
Of the 750 MLD sewage generated in the city, about 527 MLD is treated. This water can be used for gardening, car washing and other non-drinking purposes or can be sent downstream for irrigation. However, in the absence of a centralized system, it is released into the river along with 25% of untreated sewage.
"The reuse of treated water is important to get more water from the irrigation department. The Mundhwa project will have the infrastructure to draw treated water from the river and put it into the canal," said Vishal Tambe, chairman of the standing committee. He added that the contract works also include maintenance of the infrastructure for five years.
Since 1997, the civic body has been receiving water from the irrigation department on the condition that it will treat 6.5 TMC water annually and release it for agricultural use. Since no steps were taken, the state government on March 18, 2009 had sought Rs 6 crore as compensation from the civic body.
Consequently, the civic administration had assured the state government that it will complete sewage treatment plants and water-lifting infrastructure in a time-bound manner. If this infrastructure is ready, 6.5 TMC treated water can be released into the canal every year for irrigation. In return, the civic body can get additional water for the city from the reservoirs of the four dams and farmers will not lift water from the reservoirs, officials said.
Last May, the civic body had released two advertisements asking citizens and industries to use treated water for non-drinking purposes. The plan was to fill treated water in tankers and send it for gardening, to car wash centres and for other uses so that people do not use drinking water. Though no charges were levied for those wanting to use it, there were no takers.
Of the 750 MLD sewage generated in the city, about 527 MLD is treated. This water can be used for gardening, car washing and other non-drinking purposes or can be sent downstream for irrigation. However, in the absence of a centralized system, it is released into the river along with 25% of untreated sewage.
"The reuse of treated water is important to get more water from the irrigation department. The Mundhwa project will have the infrastructure to draw treated water from the river and put it into the canal," said Vishal Tambe, chairman of the standing committee. He added that the contract works also include maintenance of the infrastructure for five years.
Since 1997, the civic body has been receiving water from the irrigation department on the condition that it will treat 6.5 TMC water annually and release it for agricultural use. Since no steps were taken, the state government on March 18, 2009 had sought Rs 6 crore as compensation from the civic body.
Consequently, the civic administration had assured the state government that it will complete sewage treatment plants and water-lifting infrastructure in a time-bound manner. If this infrastructure is ready, 6.5 TMC treated water can be released into the canal every year for irrigation. In return, the civic body can get additional water for the city from the reservoirs of the four dams and farmers will not lift water from the reservoirs, officials said.
Last May, the civic body had released two advertisements asking citizens and industries to use treated water for non-drinking purposes. The plan was to fill treated water in tankers and send it for gardening, to car wash centres and for other uses so that people do not use drinking water. Though no charges were levied for those wanting to use it, there were no takers.
