A city-based independent agency has drafted the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation's (KMC) ESR, a copy of which is with TOI. According to the report, despite partial commissioning of the sewage treatment plant having capacity to treat 76 MLD sewage, the civic administration has not made satisfactory progress in the work of underground drainage, stopping waste water from entering into the Panchganga and Rankala.

"Around 96 MLD of sewage is generated in the city daily but the KMC has facility to treat just 43.5 MLD. Hence, there is a need to complete the work of sewage treatment plants at Kasba Bawda and Dudhali. Besides, another treatment plant is required for the eastern parts of the city," the ESR stated.

According to the report, the KMC should check the flow of sewage from nearby villages such as Kalamba, Panchgaon and Morewadi into the city's nullah system, which is increasing burden on the existing treatment system. There is a need for a separate treatment system for Balinga, Nagdevwadi, Phulewadi, Lakshtirth Vasahat, Shingnapur and Hanmanwadi, it stated.

As per the report, there were 5,849 incidents of choking up of the drainage system � the figures are double as compared to 2013-14. The major areas where the drains choked frequently are Gandhi Maidan, Dudhali, Jamdar Club, Juna Budhwar, Sasne Ground, Gangavesh and Parikh bridge.

The report claims that around 95% of the 1,20,678 houses in the city have toilets, while 25,018 homes mostly from the slum areas are dependent on public lavatories.

The findings on potable water revealed that 130 of the 1,330 samples tested were polluted and not fit for drinking. "The polluted samples were mostly found in wards D and E. It may be the result of mixing of sewage water with drinking water," the ESR stated.

Uday Gaikwad, a city-based environmentalist and director of Mass Initiative Truth Research Action (MITRA), the firm appointed for the work, said, "The KMC has spent huge amount of money on the water supply system. The tax recovery is just for 60 MLD water lifted from the river, while that for the remaining 60 MLD goes uncollected straining the existing system. Moreover, the corporators are not aware about contaminated water supplied in their areas. The KMC should improve its water treatment machinery to supply purified water."

Besides, the ESR also came down heavily on the civic body for failing to undertake enough efforts to regulate the city's traffic flow. The report stated that increase in vehicle population and faulty traffic management has led to rise in air pollution manifold. "Public transport vehicles should run on CNG instead of diesel to reduce emission of carbon monoxide. Moreover, the KMC and the traffic department should emphasise on one ways to improve the traffic flow and decrease congestion," it stated.

The KMC has been drafting the ESR since the last three years, but has failed to meet the expectations of environmental experts every time. However, this year the ESR has lauded the civic administration's effort to commission the STP and resolve legal battle related to dumping of waste in Top quarry.

R K Patil, chief of environment cell in the KMC, said, "The direct pipeline project for supplying clean water, partial commissioning of the STP and near completion of the Takala landfill site will help reduce environmental concerns significantly in coming years. Special efforts are being taken to improve the underground drainage system. Besides, installation of traffic signals too will yield results soon."

The ESR has presented the �environment management plan' at the end, along with the KMC's compliance over the suggestions made in last year's report.

ESR in a nutshell

* Increase number of traffic signals, run buses on CNG and promote one-way traffic flow

* Set up new STP for treating sewage generated in eastern parts of the city

* Treat garbage at source and promote public awareness

* Increase water tax collection to manage water supply system effectively

* Start electrical cremation facility for suburbs

* Maintain cleanliness in public toilets

* Ensure public participation in developing gardens and open spaces