Pune River Clean-up Project

Context:

A green signal has been given by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for tendering a Rs 1000 crore project to clean up Pune’s rivers, Mula, Mutha, and Mula-Mutha.

Overview:

=> The sewage of the city is thrown into the Mula and Mutha rivers, thus making them extremely polluted.

=> This project aims to improve the water quality in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area by increasing sewage treatment facilities and sewage collection infrastructure.

=> The Rs 1000-crore assistance that will be given by JICA will be used to reduce pollution in the Mutha, Mula, and Mula-Mutha rivers, as well as to improve living conditions and sanitation in the downstream area and the city.

=> The money will be used to build pumping stations, sewer lines, and treatment plants for sewage treatment before it is discharged into the Mula, Mutha, and Mula-Mutha rivers.

=> Under this project 55 km of trunk lines and 11 new sewage treatment units (STP) will be installed. The combined capacity of these 11 newly installed STPs would be 396 million liters per day (MLD).

=> Aside from the 11 STPs, JICA will help set up a 113-kilometer sewer network, 24 community toilets, and four sewage pumping stations.

=> The expanded network will cater to the city’s sewage generation up to the year 2027.

Why is this project important?

Pune’s population is expected to grow to 5.7 million by 2027 and 8.4 million by 2047. This will result in an increase the sewage needs and generation. In the PMC area, a total of 744 MLD of sewage is generated, with around 476 MLD being processed in nine STPs and released into the water. Hence, the implementation of this project is very important from the viewpoint of this city.

About JICA:

Japan International Cooperation Agency is a government agency of Japan. This organization helps in social and economic growth in developing countries and also looks to promote international cooperation. Professor Shinichi Kitaoka is the president of JICA and its headquarters is in Tokyo.