<p>The sewage treatment plant (STP) near Gabbur on the outskirts of the City, built with the ambition of treating sewage water generated in the City, is receiving only 25% of its capacity, and recycled water is still being released into the naala (stormwater drain) only.</p><p>To recycle sewage water coming from underground drainage (UGD) lines in the main naala, the mega STP was constructed at a cost of Rs 29 crore in 2015 as part of a major UGD project. This STP has a capacity of treating 40 MLD of sewage water. In the absence of complete UGD network and its full connection with the STP, the inflow to the plant was not even 30 MLD even before the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (KUIDFC) handed over it to the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) five years back. </p><p>Inflow to the STP came down suddenly during 2019 floods when UGD lines were damaged, and it decreased further due to missing links in the UGD networks later.</p><p>At some places, sewage water enters the naala directly, instead of UGD lines. Missing links in UGD networks also cause flow of UGD water on roads. Authorities admit that the inflow to the STP at present is only around 10 MLD, and treated water being released into the naala is being used for agriculture by farmers downstream.</p><p><strong>Measures in pipeline</strong></p><p>Of late, after clearing several confusions and arranging funds, the HDMC is now ready with estimates to join missing links to get more gray water to the STP, and reuse some portion of recycled water to fill Kempakere (tank) on Karwar Road which lacks water source.</p><p>As per the action plan approved by the deputy commissioner and in need of administrative approval by the HDMC’s general body, the plan is to use recycled water of the STP to rejuvenate the water source of Kempakere at a cost of Rs 1.38 crore, under the 15th finance commission grants.</p><p>Other plans to increase the inflow of sewage water to the STP include spending Rs 1.75 crore works to join missing links at Kharadi Oni, New English School, Bammapur, Mulla Oni, Noorani Plot, Jannath Nagar, Neelgund Layout, Siddharoodamutt and other areas. Another estimate is of Rs 1.30 crore to join missing links on Devaragudihal Road and surrounding areas and join the wet-well near Shimla Nagar, before bringing it to the STP.</p><p>“One year may be required for these works, after completing all the formalities. Inflow is around 10 MLD now. KUIDFC is also going to start a work to lift naala water to the STP to full its capacity. Cost of that project is Rs 40 crore and it will include a wet-well also,” says HDMC Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar R.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Minor Irrigation Department has also come up with a Rs 14 core plan to utilise the recycled water from the STP for supplying to agricultural fields nearby, he added.</p><p>Mini STPs</p><p>Water bodies like Unkal Lake and Tolanakere (tank) are still getting polluted with sewage water, though they have small STPs. As a solution, the HDMC has planned to join missing links of UGD lines leading towards such mini STPs, and to privatise their operations and maintenance.</p><p>Accordingly, Rs 1.30 crore works are planned to join missing links towards the wet-well near Unkal Lake. It is also proposed to give tender for the operations and maintenance of one MLD STP at Tolanakere, three MLD STP at Bhairidevarakoppa, 0.25 MLD STP at Ramnagar, and 0.5 MLD STP at Unkal at a cost of Rs 1.13 crore, officials said.</p>
<p>The sewage treatment plant (STP) near Gabbur on the outskirts of the City, built with the ambition of treating sewage water generated in the City, is receiving only 25% of its capacity, and recycled water is still being released into the naala (stormwater drain) only.</p><p>To recycle sewage water coming from underground drainage (UGD) lines in the main naala, the mega STP was constructed at a cost of Rs 29 crore in 2015 as part of a major UGD project. This STP has a capacity of treating 40 MLD of sewage water. In the absence of complete UGD network and its full connection with the STP, the inflow to the plant was not even 30 MLD even before the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (KUIDFC) handed over it to the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) five years back. </p><p>Inflow to the STP came down suddenly during 2019 floods when UGD lines were damaged, and it decreased further due to missing links in the UGD networks later.</p><p>At some places, sewage water enters the naala directly, instead of UGD lines. Missing links in UGD networks also cause flow of UGD water on roads. Authorities admit that the inflow to the STP at present is only around 10 MLD, and treated water being released into the naala is being used for agriculture by farmers downstream.</p><p><strong>Measures in pipeline</strong></p><p>Of late, after clearing several confusions and arranging funds, the HDMC is now ready with estimates to join missing links to get more gray water to the STP, and reuse some portion of recycled water to fill Kempakere (tank) on Karwar Road which lacks water source.</p><p>As per the action plan approved by the deputy commissioner and in need of administrative approval by the HDMC’s general body, the plan is to use recycled water of the STP to rejuvenate the water source of Kempakere at a cost of Rs 1.38 crore, under the 15th finance commission grants.</p><p>Other plans to increase the inflow of sewage water to the STP include spending Rs 1.75 crore works to join missing links at Kharadi Oni, New English School, Bammapur, Mulla Oni, Noorani Plot, Jannath Nagar, Neelgund Layout, Siddharoodamutt and other areas. Another estimate is of Rs 1.30 crore to join missing links on Devaragudihal Road and surrounding areas and join the wet-well near Shimla Nagar, before bringing it to the STP.</p><p>“One year may be required for these works, after completing all the formalities. Inflow is around 10 MLD now. KUIDFC is also going to start a work to lift naala water to the STP to full its capacity. Cost of that project is Rs 40 crore and it will include a wet-well also,” says HDMC Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar R.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Minor Irrigation Department has also come up with a Rs 14 core plan to utilise the recycled water from the STP for supplying to agricultural fields nearby, he added.</p><p>Mini STPs</p><p>Water bodies like Unkal Lake and Tolanakere (tank) are still getting polluted with sewage water, though they have small STPs. As a solution, the HDMC has planned to join missing links of UGD lines leading towards such mini STPs, and to privatise their operations and maintenance.</p><p>Accordingly, Rs 1.30 crore works are planned to join missing links towards the wet-well near Unkal Lake. It is also proposed to give tender for the operations and maintenance of one MLD STP at Tolanakere, three MLD STP at Bhairidevarakoppa, 0.25 MLD STP at Ramnagar, and 0.5 MLD STP at Unkal at a cost of Rs 1.13 crore, officials said.</p>