TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: At a time when a new Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) has been approved for EDC Complex, Patto, Panjim, attempts to revitalise the old plant at a whopping cost of Rs 50 lakh plus has raised a major stink.
An e-tendering process is currently on for inviting bids for laying a new 2 MLD effluent pipeline from the old STP at EDC Complex, Patto, to Mandovi River which is estimated to cost nothing less than Rs 47.89 lakh.
This pipeline, according to officials of PWD, Division III, is being laid for carrying treated water for discharge from the old plant to River Mandovi.
Ironically, the old 0.50 MLD STP is far from being functional and sewage claimed to be treated is being discharged into the adjoining Ourem Creek.
The officials of PWD, Division III justify the need for a new pipeline from the old STP at EDC Complex to River Mandovi on the grounds that there is no other alternative.
What is even more surprising is that the PWD is yet to try out some new enzymes for treating sewage generated at EDC complex only after the monsoons, following which it is hoped that the defunct plant will commence functioning until the new plant is constructed and commissioned.
Information shows that administrative approvals have been granted recently for the new 2 MLD STP at EDC Complex, Patto estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.
“The new plant will take at least two years to be constructed and commissioned,” said Dilip Dhavalikar, Executive Engineer, PWD Division III.
One fact has however come to light that once the new 2 MLD plant is commissioned the old plant will be shut down. In fact it is proposed to demolish the old plant so as to construct the new plant at the same site. However as CCP is shifting out its waste management plant at Patto, plans are now afoot to set up the new 2 MLD sewerage treatment plant on that site instead. In such an event present plans to spend over Rs 50 lakh on the old plant appears unjustifiable.
Replying to queries, Dhavalikar defended the move for laying a new effluent pipeline from the existing plant to River Mandovi will be commissioned.
“We could have diverted the same to the nearby pumping station at Mala but that can cater to only 800 cubic meters of raw sewage,” he said.
Dhavalikar also said that the tender has been floated for both maintenance of the STP at Tonca and new pipeline from old STP Plant at Patto to River Mandovi to the tune of Rs 47.89 lakh.
Fears are that in case the old STP plant, Patto, fails to accept the new enzymes, the new pipeline may carry raw sewage into River Mandovi and huge amount invested from the government coffers into the new STP may soon go down the drain.
