Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will become the first in the nation to treat and reuse over 90% of total sewage water generated in the city. The civic body has started the process to increase its treatment and reuse capacity to 480 million litres per day (MLD). Around 525 MLD sewage is generated in the city.NMC executive engineer Aniruddha Chauganjkar and deputy engineer Rajesh Dupare told TOI National Thermal Power Station (NTPC) has agreed to procure 150 MLD treated sewage from NMC. “NMC has received a letter from NTPC in this regard. NTPC will use treated sewage at its Mouda thermal power station. Now, a meeting will be organized with NTPC to decide the rate for supply of treated sewage. It will be followed by a MoU between NMC and NTPC,” they said.The officials added newly commissioned sewage treatment plant (STP) of 200 MLD will be augmented to 350 MLD. “A proposal in this regard has been tabled before the standing committee, which will discuss and approve it in a meeting on January 14. Then the proposal will be put up before the general body for approval,” they said.NMC had constructed STP with capacity of 200 MLD on PPP model. A consortium of three private companies — Vishwaraj Infrastructure Limited, Drake & Scull Water and Power LLC, and Vasundhara Drills and Drainage Private Limited — had developed the project and started operation and maintenance from July 2018.NMC’s plan to augment treatment capacity of new plant from 200 MLD to 350 MLD will not need a new tendering process or appointment of new operator.For existing 200 MLD treated sewage of the new STP, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) had entered into an MoU with NMC for procurement of 190 MLD for its Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power stations.Also, Mahagenco is taking 130 MLD treated sewage from NMC’s first STP developed under JNNURM.Thus, total treatment capacity and reuse of sewage will increase to 480 MLD as against generation of 525 MLD. It will be 91.42% of total sewage generation.NMC says a few cities in the nation treat and reuse sewage, but their quantum is below 70 MLD. “NMC was the first to treat and reuse 130 MLD sewage three years ago. All this could happen since thermal power stations are situated near the city. Also, the central and state government made it mandatory for thermal power stations and industrial units to buy treated sewage from urban local bodies situated within a radius of 50km,” the officials said.Another major achievement of NMC in the near future will be treating 100% sewage. Already, NMC and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) have planned mini STPs with capacity of 72 MLD. All these will reduce pollution in city’s three rivers — Nag, Pili and Pora. Also, pollution caused to Kanhan and Wainganga rivers, and Gosikhurd dam due to flow of Nag river’s untreated water will also come to an end.NMC’s initiatives are the role model of waste-to-wealth. NMC is planning to meet expenses of projects and sewage treatment through money to be paid by NTPC and Mahagenco. One more big achievement is reuse of 480 MLD treated sewage means conservation of same quantum of raw water from irrigation reservoirs.DROP SAVED* NMC runs STP with capacity of 130 MLD from 2016* 130 MLD treated sewage is used by Mahagenco’s Koradi power station* NMC commissioned new STP with capacity of 200 MLD on PPP model* Mahagenco has agreed to buy 190 MLD* Now NTPC has agreed to procure 150 MLD more treated sewage* NMC plans to increase treatment capacity of new STP to 350 MLD* NMC will treat and reuse 480 MLD of total 525 MLD sewage generated in city every day* NMC and NIT also planning mini STPs with 72 MLD capacity to treat 100% sewage of city

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