Nagpur: High-level pollution in Gosikhurd irrigation project, and in rivers Nag,Kanhan and Wainganga , is set to reduce to some extent. Following TOI's expose, the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited ( Mahagenco ) has started treating 110 million litres per day ( MLD ) at newly commissioned sewage treatment plant ( STP ). However, state power generation utility is treating 20 MLDless as the installed capacity of the STP is 130 MLD .
The central government had sanctioned funds to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for construction of STP for reducing high level pollution in rivers andGosikhurd irrigation project under JNNURM scheme. NMC had permitted Mahagenco to execute and operate the STP as the latter contributed to the civic body's share in the project.
It is a first-of-its-kind project in the whole country, as the treated sewage will be utilized in power generation by the Mahagenco at its Koradi Thermal Power Expansion Project.
Mahagenco was supposed to run the STP at its total installed capacity. However, Mahagenco used to treat only 40 MLD as per its requirement at the power project. NMC was supposed to ensure STP running at its full load.
On July 5, TOI had exposed this mismanagement. Taking cognisance, NMC had issued a letter to Mahagenco and also to the private company engaged in operation and maintenance of the STP.
Chief engineer of Koradi Thermal Power Expansion Project US Nikhare told TOI that now onwards the STP will be run at 110 MLD capacity. "NMC had asked us to run STP at full load. Treated sewage from the STP will be utilized in three units at the project. Only one unit is in operation so our requirement stands at 40 MLD. We are utilizing only 40 MLD and rest of treated sewage being let in Nag River. We will utilize total 110 MLD with commissioning of remaining two units," he said.
Nikhare said the STP cannot be run at its full capacity. "We are now running STP at 110 MLD capacity as a performance guarantee test. It will continue for three months. The private company will submit report which will be followed by success. The STP will be continued to run at 110 MLD load," he said.
NMC executive engineer Shyam Chauhan said regular monitoring will be done to ensure STP runs at full load.
Apart from the new STP, NMC is operating an old STP also at Bhandewadi where 80 MLD sewage of Nag River is being treated. Sewage after treatment is let into Nag River. Thus, 190 MLD sewage from Nag River is being treated. Around 220-250 MLD sewage flows in Nag River. Therefore, pollution will come down to a great extent in Nag River.
However, the pollution level in Gosikhurd and Wainganga, Kanhan rivers will reduce only to some extent since the untreated sewage of Pili and Pora rivers flow into Nag River after Bhandewadi. Pili river and Pora river flows into Nag River outside the city limit. Then, Nag River joins Kanhanriver that merges into Wainganga river on which Gosikhurd irrigation project set up.
The NMC had started execution of the third STP with capacity of 200 MLD at Bhandewadi itself. It is an expansion project and capacity to augment by 120 MLD . The total treatment capacity of NMC will increase to 330 MLD with the commission of the under-construction STP . The Gosikhurd irrigation project and rivers' pollution will then be reduced to a great extent.
