Mumbai: Union minister for environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) Prakash Javadekar has said that about 70 per cent of the first package of Mula-Mutha River cleaning project has been completed. Mr Javadekar conducted a review of the ‘Project for Pollution Abatement of River Mula Mutha in Pune’ on Sunday.
The first package of the river cleaning project includes construction of branch sewers in Baner. It was also highlighted that the Rs 990 crore worth project that aims to reduce the pollution of Mula-Mutha River in Pune has been fast-tracked.
Officials of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), forest department and consultants related to the project were present for the review meeting. “The dream of Pune city is soon going to be fulfilled as the '990 crore project, which aims at reducing the pollution of Mula-Mutha River, has now been fast-tracked,” the minister said.
He stated that after the completion of 70 per cent work of the first package, clearance for other four packages, involving the construction of Sewage Treatment Plants would be given in coming days. “Once the approval is given, foundation stones will be laid for these four packages in the next two months,” Mr Javadekar added.
Mula-Mutha River stretch is among the 35 polluted river stretches in the country, classified as priority 1, which is the highest risk category by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The minister made it clear that it is a joint project of the Centre and the PMC for cleaning of the river under the National River Conservation Plan, and not of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). “JICA is the bank which is providing the finances, but the project is of the government of India and the PMC,” he said.
The project include construction of eleven new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), laying of 113.6 km of sewer lines for collection of untapped sewage and renovation/rehabilitation of four existing intermediate pumping stations. It will increase the sewage treatment capacity of Pune from 477 MLD to 873 MLD.
