Vapi industries to upgrade effluent disposal network

The GIDC estate of Sarigam Vapi will augment its present effluent disposal network to cope up with the extra load of dischargeable effluent due to the rapid industrialization of Vapi in recent years.

GIDC planning to lay down new 25 million litres per day (MLD) capacity 13 km long pipeline at the cost of Rs 12 crore to support the existing effluent disposal system.

The project named 'critical infrastructure project' is a joint venture of Association of Sarigam Industries, notified area authority of Vapi GIDC and state government. The project is proposed to be completed by the end of the year 2006.

"There is a need to upgrade the existing system as it is falling short to the demand of ever developing industries in Vapi," said Virendra Panchal, chartered engineer of Vapi GIDC.

He further added that the present disposal capacity of effluent is about 5 million liters per day (MLD) which is not enough for its quick and efficient disposal. The existing drainage network and the final effluent disposal system was built 20 years ago for the GIDC estate of Sarigam.

Currently, the effluent gets collected into an underground collection dump at the location of the pumping station in GIDC estate of Sarigam.

The treated effluent is disposed off in the sea near the Tadgam village, where there is a 1.5 km pipeline into the sea with diffuser outfall arrangements. Vapi has 70 per cent of chemical industries of the total 300 industries.

"It's a challenging job due to the difficult terrain of Sarigam which we will overcome by latest technology and that too at a very economical cost and thereby achieving maximum result," said Panchal.

The existing system has 5 MLD capacities that will be increased to 25 MLD capacity in order to manage the high flow of effluent in future, informed Panchal. He further adds, "We are putting into practice the best know-how in order to counter the difficult terrain."

There will be installation of a series of pump which can lift 5 MLD in multiplication so that stage-wise the flow can be channelised.

Presently, the effluent pipeline is 300 mm in diameter with mixed pipe installation but the proposed pipe will be of HDPEE 450 mm to 700 mm diameter which is almost 50 per cent cheaper, said Panchal.

"The pipe material will be such that it will resist the worst situations of acidic PH and will be tough, durable and chemically resistant," he added.