Nag River rejuvenation project’s cost escalates to Rs 2,434 crore
| Date :21-Aug-2019 |
Part of Nag Nullah adjoining Yeshwant Stadium where one of the STPs would come up as part of Nag River rejuvenation project.
By Sagar Mohod: Nag River rejuvenation scheme joins the long list of development projects mooted for city that became mega due to cost escalation due to long delay in approvals. The ambit of project has escalated to Rs 2,434 crore with the DPR now awaiting nod of Central and State Government where it is now under scrutiny. In past, city bled as project mooted long back could not take off, for example MIHAN and Cargo Hub, Ram Jhula, and when work actually started the revised cost was many times over the one envisaged at the s start. Meanwhile, there are two components of the plan, one that is expected to be finalised within next few months, and it is about pollution abatement project, the second phase involves River Front Development. Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has given its approval to revised DPR wherein upgradation of existing Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) is now included, informed Mohd. Israil, Project In-charge, River and Lakes Rejuvenation, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), while talking to The Hitavada on Tuesday.
As per norms of National Green Tribunal, all new and existing sewage treatment plant (STP) must have nitrate treatment component installed in them and hence the project cost has now increased. He also said that as per the formula, JICA will provide 85 per cent funding, 25 per cent share will be of State Government and NMC will have to contribute 15 per cent. Nag River rejuvenation task was first handled by Eco City Foundation and it began work sometimes back in 1999 and continued for nearly two years. Given the ambitious nature of project, NMC decided to tap international funding agency and JICA agreed to partner in the said process. Israil said at NMC end they are ready to start implementation of the project and expects approval from Central and State Government by October.
The work will be divided in four to five packages as different components are clubbed in the pollution abatement including that of erection of pumping houses, laying of pipelines, etc. National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), under the Jalshakti Mantralay, will be the nodal agency for implementation of the project owing to involvement of international funding agency. They will appoint the project management consultant (PMC) and they in turn providing funding to NMC. The project envisages interception of drainage and routing its through sewerage treatment plants (STPs) and later releasing the same into Nag River through treatment at pumping stations.
The target is to release B quality water into the river stream by ensuring proper treatment of comprehensive sewerage released in North and Central Nagpur areas. Apart from Nag River, its two tributaries Pili River and Bornullah, it is drainage of Futala and meets Nag at Yeshwant Stadium. For the first phase project only 2.5 Ha land acquisition is needed for establishment of a STP. A total of 92 MLD sewerage is expected to be treated through STPs, upgradation of 2 STPs, one at Mankapur and other one at Mokshadham, each one having capacity of 5 MLD. NMC on its part envisage construction of STPs at Nara with capacity to handle 45 MLD discharge, 35 MLD at Mor Bhawan and 12 MLD at VNIT campus, while NIT will upgrade its three STPs, at Hazaripahad, Dabha and Wanjra, to treat 17 MLD sewerage.