The Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure Authority (APIA) has given its approval to a project to supply water from sewage treatment plants to industries in the city.
The project is being taken up as part of reforms required to be implemented by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation under the JNNURM.
Once implemented, the project enables the corporation to supply treated water to industries instead of letting it off into the sea, affecting fish and causing problems to people living nearby. As of now, a portion of the treated water is supplied to industries. The approval for the project came at a high-level meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday with Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi presiding, bringing to a head the process being carried out for the last two years. Principal Secretaries of Finance and MA &UD participated.
Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu made a presentation on the project for which a detailed report had been submitted earlier. His presentation covered the plans for sewage treatment plant, its supply to industry, saving of water from regular supply, and environmental aspects. As of now, the city has two major STPs — 38 mld and 28 mld — on which Rs.1.75 crore is being spent for maintenance. With the approval now, the city will have sufficient water for 24 x 7 supply and an additional revenue of Rs.7.5 crore.
In course of time, treating 250 mld water through STPs would result in a revenue of Rs.25 crore to Rs.30 crore, Mr. Ramanjaneyulu projected in his presentation.
An official release said Visakhapatnam was the first city in the State to get the STP project. Sources in the GVMC said after the clearance by APIA, orders would be issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department paving the way for launching the project.
