The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) will now independently test the treated wastewater samples from Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Kasba Bawada.
As the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has asked the KMC to monitor the quality of the waste treated and ensure improved quality of water supply, the corporation will start the process on a weekly basis.
Also, the draft environment status report (ESR) prepared by a third party recently criticised the corporation for ineffective sewage treatment, claiming that parameters like biological oxygen demand (BOD) is on the higher side which means the water is laced with pollutants.
“We have decided to test the treated wastewater samples every week. The samples will be sent to the laboratory at Shivaji University,” said Kolhapur Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, adding that the quality of treated wastewater can be effectively monitored through this process.
The waste water from Jayanthi nullah is lifted to the STP with capacity to treat 76 million litre per day. The KMC has taken this decision to ensure that the plant is effectively functioning.
“The atomisation components such as Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) have not been fully activated. The sludge system and chlorination needs to be atomised. I have asked the officials to stop the bills till these components are not installed,” said Chaudhari.
