JOIN USPipelines measuring from 900 to 1,800 mm in diameter and nearly six feet long are being laid from Hebbal tank to Hebbal Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) where nearly 1.4 km out of 2.3 km has been completed.
BWSSB Chief Engineer (Project) Ramaswamy said, the main objective is to replace the old pipes in order to bring sewage water for treatment at the secondary plant in the STP.
He said at present the rainwater in the SWD gets mixed with the sewerage lines and end up at the STP. "We want only rain water to flow in the SWD so that our treated water and SWD get blended at the tank which helps in groundwater recharge," he added. The work at Hebbal Valley is expected to be completed by December 2010.
Similar works have started in the HAL area where pipelines as huge as 2400 mm in diameter are being laid and out of 3.3 km 1.5 km has been completed.
The BWSSB is planning to extend the project to Vrishabhavathi Valley and Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley to replace sewerage pipelines for 221 km across the City under the Environmental Action Plan in phases at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore. The project, implemented under the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation's Megacity Revolving Fund where 50 per cent, has been financed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation, another 35 per cent from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the remaining 15 per cent from the State Government.
Encroachments on the stretch of the main SWD and illegal sewerage lines discharging sewerage directly to the main SWD have led to contamination of the stormwater drains in the City. The Board’s objective is to have ‘zero’ sewerage lines in the SWD.