Vijayawada civic body plans 3 new mini STPs to curb canal pollution

Vijayawada: In a major step towards tackling the canal pollution in Vijayawada, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has prepared an extensive action plan to establish three mini sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the city’s Bandar, Ryves and Eluru Canals.The initiative is aimed at preventing untreated domestic sewage from directly entering the canals, which have long suffered from severe contamination, foul smell and environmental degradation.According to VMC officials, the proposed mini STPs will be constructed for Rs 144 crore. These will intercept sewage flowing through drains connected to the canals and treat the wastewater before it is discharged.The civic body believes the decentralised treatment model will significantly reduce pollution levels and improve water quality in the canal network that runs through densely populated areas of the city.“Nearly 25 drain canals, which directly discharge untreated sewage water into canals into the three canals, will be intercepted. These drain canals across the three canals will be interlinked to the proposed three mini STPs, where the sewage will be treated and thereby treated water will be released into the canals,” VMC incharge chief engineer P Satya Kumari said.The in-charge CE added that, given the space constraints along the canal bunds, the civic body is mulling establishing the mini STPs with advanced infrastructure as vertical structures. The official further said that the three STPs will be established at Durga Agraharam, Padavala Revu and near the Krishna Lanka areas in the city.According to official data, the city generates about 157 MLD of sewage per day, out of which 130 MLD is treated at the STPs available at Ramalingeswara Nagar and Auto Nagar, with the remaining 27 MLD untreated sewage directly getting discharged into the canals and Krishna river, leading to waterbodies pollution.