As part of efforts towards Ganga rejuvenation, a task top on Centre's priority, the government is making strides towards developing a sewage infrastructure by implementing 115 treatment projects in seven states at an estimated cost of Rs 18,000 crore, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Sunday.
This apart, massive projects for river front development and boosting cargo transportation by developing the National Waterways 1 on Ganga are also on, Gadkari said.
"To make Ganga 'nirmal' and 'aviral', government is making strides and as part of the drive is implementing 115 sewage treatment projects in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Haryana and Delhi at a cost of Rs 17,876.69 crore," the transport, river development and Ganga rejuvenation minister, Gadkari, told PTI in an interview.
He said these 115 projects for sewage infrastructure are part of 240 projects for overall development of the river.
Of these, 27 have been completed and work in 42 is in progress while 7 projects have already been allotted, the minister said.
Tenders have been out for 34 others, the minister said adding that of the total projects a maximum 31 are in Uttarakhand, followed by 32 in Uttar Pradesh, 20 in Bihar, 16 in West Bengal, 12 in Delhi and 2 each in Jharkhand and Haryana.
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Cleaning works would start getting remarkably noticeable in another six months, the minister said claiming that "transforming the river that was the distinct cultural identify of the nation was close to his heart".
Not only "we are implementing new projects" but a review of the 84 old sewage treatment plants (STPs) revealed that 39 are working fine but the rest need upgradation and upgradation work was on in 14 projects while 12 have been sanctioned for the same.
Enunciating the work for sewage infrastructure, the minister said: "Massive initiatives have resulted in rich dividends and we have successfully created capacity to treat 1,700 MLD sewage."