U.S. Agency for International Development is taking up a study on gaps in water supply and sanitation in the city and will take up pilot projects also.
The issues include treatment of only 35 per cent of the sewage of 119 MLD, 27 per cent of non-revenue water owing to pilferage and leakage and construction of 25,000 individual toilets.
Municipal Commissioner Pravin Kumar told reporters that even after the completion of the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Narava the capacity would increase to 40 per cent taking the total to 55 mld. “There is a need for expanding sewage network. Besides, dumping of faecal waste from septic tanks and 60 identified places of open defecation are also areas of concern to be addressed.”
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USAID’s Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Alliance (WASH) would identify the gaps and problems, submit a report and take up a pilot project, the Commissioner said. “The report is expected by the end of May.”
The work was taken up following the Union Ministry of Urban Development’s direction. Similar studies were also being taken up in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai also.
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Visakhapatnam is one of the three cities that have been selected for development as smart cities with U.S. collaboration. USAID would later take up around 10,000 houses, identify water leakages and improve the supply.
Mr. Pravin Kumar said if successful, the strategies could be implemented all over the city.
Similarly, in sanitation the awareness levels would be increased on the use of individual toilets by all members of families in slums.
Visakhapatnam is one of the three cities selected for development into smart cities with
U.S. collaboration