Gandhinaar: The government of Gujarat has given in-principle approval to fund allocation for the second phase of river Tapi cleanliness project under the national river conservation programme.

River Tapi is one and only source of drinking water for the city of Surat, the second largest city of Gujarat which is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Rs 922.18 crore master plan for river Tapi cleanliness project covers Surat Municipal Corporation(SMC) area, Surat Urban Development Authority(SUDA) area and the area under the State government upto Kakrapar weir.

Under this master plan, 24 outlets between Kakrapar weir to ONGC bridge in Surat city will be intercepted to execute collection, transmission, disposal and treatment plans. 15 villages/hamlets/towns of SUDA area and 59 from the State government area will be covered and connected to drainage network, sewage pumping station, transmission lines, treatment plant.

As per the detailed project report(DPR), projects such as diversion dam, gravity main, rising main, sewage pumping station, sewage treatment plant and disposal pipe line laying works are planned. 202 km drainage network, 36 sewage pumping stations, 31 small/major sewage treatment plants and related works are part of the total project. The plan involves treatment of 59 MLD water from State govt area, 302 MLD from SUDA area and 299 MLD from SMC area – in total 660 MLD water.

The State government has given its approval to DPR of this project and forwarded it to the Central Government for approval of grant under the River Conservation Programme. As per the method of NRCP, the grant is disbursed in 60:40(Centre:State+Civic body).

The project, as per the government target will be completed in five years in phased manner.

DeshGujarat