Wadi Municipal Council (WMC) has finally started construction of its 10 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) at Ambedkar Nagar in Wadi area, near Amravati Road to restrict the direct release of sewage into iconic Ambazari lake. Last year in April, Ambazari lake witnessed the flooding of Eichhornia weeds which was later removed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). However, it again flooded during last monsoon and these weeds are also a major reason of recent floods in Nagpur. There is no drainage system available in Wadi area and the residents dispose off the sewage into septic-tanks. However, due to lack of drainage system, the sewage is directly released into nullahs which is connected with Ambazari lake.

 

Presence of nutrients due to intrusion of sewage in Ambazari lake is the main reason behind growing of Eichhornia weeds. To identify the reason of growing of weeds, NMC conducted inspection of surrounding areas of the lake and found one nullah near Amravati road releasing sewage. After this, NMC asked WMC to construct a STP. “We have started the construction of 10 MLD sewage treatment plant at Ambedkar Nagar. The project will take one-and-a-half year to complete,” Dr Vijay Deshmukh, Chief Officer, WMC told The Hitavada. “Wadi has no underground sewage system so far. We have five sewage suction vehicles and on request of residents we collect sewage through these vehicles and dump it in Bhandewadi. After construction of the drainage system the sewage will be treated in the STP. We will supply the treated water to MIDC and WMC will sell the manure to others,” said Dr Deshmukh.

 

There are 13,000 families residing in Wadi area and the demand of separate drainage system was raised time to time by the residents. However, the issue of Eichhornia weeds opened the eyes of the administration and the proposal of STP and drainage system is finally getting shape. “We are going to lay 65 km long drainage line which will cover every house in the jurisdiction of Wadi Municipal Council in the next one-and-a-half year. The government has sanctioned Rs 85 crore for this project,” said Dr Deshmukh. The project will help to restrict the direct intrusion of sewage into Ambazari lake. After the incident of flood, NMC is conducting cleaning of Eichhornia weeds from the lake time to time. But still the weeds reappear and the presence of sewage is the main reason behind it. The matter of Eichhornia flooding in Ambazari lake was also raised in the winter assembly by MLAs and following the same the project is now getting speed.