Gadkari asks people working for Uttarakhand Namami Gange Project to complete it by December

New Delhi, July 31: In a review meeting of the Namami Gange Projects, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari has instructed officials and contractors working for Uttarakhand Namami Gange Project to complete projects given to them by December 2018.

The minister told officials to work in close cooperation with the state government, district administration and municipal corporation for smooth completion of the projects. He said that Bihar and West Bengal governments are giving monetary help to house holders for House Service Connections (HSC's). He instructed officials to take up the issue with the Uttarakhnad government and link the HSC's with main sewer line as quickly as possible.

As of now 16 out of 31 sanctioned STP projects in Uttarakhand are complete and work is in progress on the remaining 15 STPs. Projected sewerage generation in the year 2035 in Uttarakhand is 122 MLD while the existing treatment capacity is 97.6 MLD. The projects under implementation will create a capacity for treating 131.7 MLD sewages after completion.

In Haridwar, there are four projects under implementation. These include I&D project at Jagjeetpur and Sawai (17.1 KM), STP (Hybrid Annuity Based PPP) at Jagjeetpur and Sewer Network Project at Arihant Vihar and New Vishnu Garden, Kankhal. The city generates 74 MLD of sewerage. The existing capacity is 63 MLD. The ongoing projects will create 82 MLD capacity, so after completion of these projects, the city will have a treatment capacity of 127 MLD.

Other projects under construction in Uttarakhand include one STP and I&D at Muni Ki Reti, two STP projects in Rishikesh, O&M work at Tehri, upgradation of STP at Uttarkashi, ,one STP and I&D, and one upgradation at Srinagar and STP and I&D projects at Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, Nandprayag, Chamoli-Gopeshwar, Joshimath and Badrinath. In addition to these, STP projects at Tapovan Devprayag, Gangotri, Kirtinagar have already been completed.

I&D works at Dehradun, STP work at Srikot and work of Loknath Nala, Haridwar have been undertaken in 2018-19. DPRs are under preparation for these projects. Apart from construction of new STP's, upgradation of old STP's and I&D works, 21 ghat and 22 crematoria projects are also going on. Of these, work at 10 ghats and 9 crematoria are complete, and the rest will be completed by the end of this year.

Officials assured the minister that they would complete all the projects till December 2018 baring few difficult locations were work is being delayed due to cutting rocks and sloppy hills.

Gadkari also suggested that the possibility of using treated sewage water in industries in Dehradun and Haridwar and for irrigation purposes should be explored.