PUNE, Maharashtra: A new water treatment plant with 125 MLD (million litres of water) capacity is all set to be built in Wadgaon Budruk. The project will cost ₹220 crore, which includes the centre’s share as well. The tendering process will commence within a month.
The estimate committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has already cleared the funds for the operation and maintenance of the project earlier this week. The process of seeking financial assistance from the central government is underway. Vikram Kumar, Administrator, PMC, said, “PMC will also make provisions for the project in the municipal budgets”.
Municipal officials also informed that civic authorities will phase out the 50-year-old water treatment plant in Parvati in the coming years. The plant provides water to various localities in the city, including the Peth areas. Plant in the Parvati area can treat nearly 535 million litres of water every day. Civic official said, “Once the new plant is ready in Wadgaon Budruk, the areas along Satara Road will start getting water from it, instead of the Parvati water purification unit.”
The new project is supported by the central government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0) scheme.
Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC’s water supply department, said, “The funds from the Centre will reach the civic body via the state government. These funds will be used for building the plant. The administration will bear the cost for its operation and maintenance. The appointed contractor will maintain and operate the plant for seven years.”
Jagtap added that a new plant is essential to cater for the needs of the growing city population especially when villages are being merged into the city.