6 sewage infra projects, research study approved for clean

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved six sewage infrastructure development projects and also a research study to understand non-putrefying properties of the river water and sediment -- all likely to cost around Rs 420 crore.
According to Union Water Resources Ministry Spokesperson Samir Sinha, the executive committee of the NMCG sanctioned the projects during its fourth meeting held here yesterday.
It approved three sewage sector projects apiece in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The panel cleared sewage treatment plants (STPs), interception and diversion projects for Unnao, Shuklaganj and Ramnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
These projects aim at creating of sewage treatment capacity of 29 million litres daily (MLD) at a total cost of Rs 238.64 crore.

In Bihar, Sinha said, three projects worth Rs 175 crore will create an additional sewage treatment capacity of 27 MLD at Sultanganj, Naugachia and Mokama.

The Centre will provide operation and maintenance cost for 15 years for all the six projects, he added.
On the approval for the research work to understand non- putrefying properties of the river, the official said it will be an extension of the study the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is carrying out to identify special properties of the river's water.
The study is estimated to cost Rs 4.96 crore to the government.
"The government wants to figure out the science behind the properties. This will help work out a strategy to retain these special properties," he said.