Cough up Rs 5 cr to keep Indirapuram STP running, Jal Nigam tells civic body
The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam have asked the Ghaziabad municipal corporation to pay nearly Rs 5 crore which is due on account of the operation of the sewage treatment plant in Indirapuram.
The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam have asked the Ghaziabad municipal corporation to pay nearly Rs 5 crore which is due on account of the operation of the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Indirapuram.
The officials said payments to the maintenance agency have been pending for nearly a year and half and the agency has said it will stop operations if not paid.
The STP, constructed at a cost of Rs 143 crore, treats sewage from major colonies in trans-Hindon area and also intercept and divert sewage from the major Sahibabad drain. It was constructed on the directions of the Supreme Court to reduce pollution in river Yamuna.
“A private agency that constructed the STP is also maintaining the facility for five years. But it have not been paid. Since the STP was developed for the corporation, the corporation should pay the amount. Otherwise, the agency has told us that it will stop work soon,” said Mohammed Tahir, executive engineer from Yamuna Pradushan Niyantran Ikai, a unit of UP Jal Nigam.
“In case the STP stops working, major funds and time would be required to get it operational again. The stoppage will create issues in residential colonies and will also add to pollution in the Yamuna,” he said.
“Due to non-payment and to reduce expenses, the STP is presently running only at 20% capacity,” Tahir said.
Municipal commissioner Abdul Samad said the corporation will consider taking over the STP for operation. He said other agencies, such as the Ghaziabad development authority and UP Housing Board, must also contribute as the sewage from their colonies is treated there.
“Meanwhile, we will request the district magistrate to call a joint meeting of various departments to discuss the issue,” Samad said.
Officials of GDA said they have their own 56MLD capacity STP in Indirapuram which is taking care of colonies under their jurisdiction.
“Our 56 MLD STP is running at full capacity. Apart from Indirapuram, no other colonies are with GDA. We will present our point of view if a meeting is called,” said Chakresh Jain, executive engineer, GDA.