The corporation has conceived of a treated water supply project to save on the use of groundwater, as the water table is dropping at an alarming level in Ghaziabad areas.
WD News: The Ghaziabad municipal corporation has taken over from the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) the 56 MLD (Million Litres Daily) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Indirapuram as part of its Rs. 320 crore project to supply treated water to industrial units in the Sahibabad Industrial Area.
The officials said that the treated sewage water will be sent to the Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP) which is being constructed in Indirapuram as part of the project. Officials said that a 95-km long pipeline has been laid to connect the two plants and to provide treated water to about 1,400 industrial units in Sahibabad. As per officials, the TSTP in Indirapuram will be commissioned in 2024.
“The 56 MLD STP has been taken over by the corporation, and its treated water will be further sent to the TSTP. The TSTP will refine the treated water and supply improved treated water to industrial units. The final treated water will meet drinking water standards. “Initially, we plan to provide 40 MLD treated water to about 1,400 units, thus saving precious groundwater,” said Mr. Nitin Gaur, Municipal Commissioner.
A recent survey found that the number of units availing themselves of treated water has decreased to 933.
“Another survey is being conducted to assess the final number of industrial units availing themselves of the treated water supply.” A formal agreement to supply water will be signed with the individual industrial units. The rate of per kilolitre of treated water per day will be about Rs. 45-48 and the final rate will be assessed after calculating the tax component,” Mr Gaur said.
According to the Uttar Pradesh groundwater department, the groundwater level in 27 localities in the city, a majority of which are situated in the trans-Hindon area, has witnessed an alarming decline in the water table of about 5.3 Metres Below Ground Level (MBGL) in the past four years.
The report said the water level in the 27 localities declined sharply from an average of 24.79 MBGL during the post-monsoon period in 2017 to an average of 30.08 MBGL during the post-monsoon period in 2021.
“We will save about Rs. 5.5 crore that we annually spend on maintenance of the 56 MLD STP in Indirapuram as that facility has now been handed over to the municipal corporation,” said Mr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Chief Engineer of GDA.
Source & image courtesy: HT
