Pune Civic Body Orders Sensor Installation in 750 Housing Societies for Sewage Monitoring
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued a directive requiring approximately 750 housing societies under its jurisdiction to install sensors for monitoring their sewage treatment plants (STPs). This mandate aims to ensure efficient operation of these facilities and reduce water pollution in the city.
Monitoring Compliance and Efficiency
According to PMC officials, all residential complexes with more than 100 flats are obligated to treat their wastewater on-site. The newly mandated sensors will provide real-time data on whether the STPs are functioning properly. "These sensors will help determine whether the sewage treatment plants are operating efficiently," stated Prithviraj BP, additional commissioner of PMC. "Housing societies are responsible for managing the sewage they generate. Those failing to do so will be required to take corrective action."
Addressing Urbanization Challenges
The initiative responds to rapid urbanization, which has significantly increased sewage generation and strained municipal STPs. PMC had previously required societies to process sewage locally, but many facilities were poorly maintained. "Maintenance of these facilities is time-consuming. Many societies keep them shut to avoid operational expenses," explained a senior PMC official. "This practice adversely affects the city's sewage treatment levels, making real-time monitoring through sensors essential."
Technology Deployment and Expansion
PMC is already using similar sensors at STPs constructed under the Mula-Mutha River Pollution Abatement Project. The same technology will now be deployed in housing societies, with performance data monitored centrally at PMC headquarters. Additionally, PMC has mandated the installation of air pollution-monitoring sensors at ongoing construction sites within municipal limits.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Capacity Enhancement
The corporation is planning to upgrade six STPs located along the Mula and Mutha rivers at multiple locations. This upgrade project will receive funding under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme and is expected to enhance the city's sewage treatment capacity. "Along with improving the six existing plants, PMC is also developing 11 new STPs under the Mula-Mutha Pollution Abatement Project," another official revealed.
Current and Future Treatment Capacities
Currently, PMC treats approximately 630 million liters per day (MLD) of the 980 MLD of sewage generated daily. After the planned upgrades and expansions, the treatment capacity is projected to increase to 1,000 MLD, significantly improving the city's wastewater management infrastructure.
