Hindustan Zinc treating 30 percent of Udaipur's sewage

Seeking to take the "Swachh Bharat" campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to another level, Hindustan Zinc has set up a waste treatment plant that handles 30 percent of the sewage generated in this lake city of Rajasthan.

A part of the Vedanta Group, engaged in zinc, lead and silver business, the company's plant treats 20 million litres of sewage each day, against the 70 million generated in this well-known tourist destination, famous for its lakes, palaces and forts.

"This sewage treatment plant has been built at a cost of Rs.170 crore and has been constructed and commissioned on design-build-own-operate-transfer mode in association with the government of Rajasthan," the company said.

This city has seen most of its sewage is ending up in the lakes, and contamination the water, polluting the eco-system and, thereby, affecting the overall landscape and beauty of these landmarks.

The only solution seen was large-scale treatment plants that could handle such large capacities of sewage. Such plants are also seen as a move towards clean environment and preserving the grandeur of these lakes, which attract millions of tourists every year.

Besides treating the sewage, Hindustan Zinc's treatment plant will also generate large quantity of manure to be sold by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation to the local bodies, and generate revenues of Rs.1 crore every year.

"Hindustan Zinc ha also started the work related to diverting domestic sewage pipeline into large pipe-lines that could lead to the sewage treatment plant, to reduce further flow into the lakes," the company said.

The project is in keeping with the company's strategy to ensure that all its facilities work on the concept of zero-discharge principle, while putting effort and research for gainful utilisation of waste generated by them.

Late last month, the company had said it has constructed 10,000 toilets in Rajasthan as part of its Maryaadaa (dignity) campaign, which will build 30,000 such units and free some 80 villages in the state from open defection.

Joining Prime Minister Modi's Swachh Bharat Campaign, The Maryaadaa campaign was kick-started by Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal. The group entered into a pact with the state government to make 80 villages free of open defecation in the next five years.