Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation has decided to upgrade its existing sewage treatment plants (STPs)but it is still awaiting funds to carry out the work.The civic body has already sought special funds for this project from the state government. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured to give Rs 400 crore to Nashik for various projects, including STP upgradation work.The two STPs each at Tapovan, Panchak, Chehedi and Agara Takli need to be upgraded. The STPs are still discharging toxic foam that flows into the river.As per the recommendation of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) has to be brought down from 30 mg/l to 10 mg/l. This can be achieved only after the existing STPs are upgraded.“We did not have the budget to upgrade the STPs. On one occasion, the budget provision for STP upgradation was scrapped by the NMC general body and instead road works were included. Now, the budgetary provision has been made but we are yet to get the funds. We are following up the issue,” said an NMC official.Godavari river near Anandvalli, Tapovan and Agartakli is in bad shape at present due to pollution. The situation here is worse than it is from Bapu Bridge to Gadge Maharaj Bridge. Cleaning of the river is also mainly undertaken in this stretch.Asked about the river pollution, NMC officials said that they were taking up awareness drives and taking efforts to clean the Godavari.“We will start with upgrading the STPs as soon as we get the funds. We would start the work after consulting NEERI and other experts,” said the official.Apart from the existing STPs, the new STPs at Gangapur and Pimpalgaon Khamb will have biological oxygen demand (BOD) of 10 mg/l.

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