In a first, faecal sludge treatment plant to come up in rural area at Amta

Kolkata: The state Panchayats and Rural Development (P&RD) department has accorded approval for the construction of a faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) at Jhamatia Gram Panchayat under Amta II Block, in Howrah. It is the first-of-its-kind initiative in rural Bengal and the cost involved will be to the tune of Rs 1.89 crore. UNICEF is extending technical expertise in the execution of the project which is expected to be completed by October–November.

In the first phase, Panchayat Samitis of Amta I, Amta II, Udaynarayanpur and Bagnan I blocks have been added to this project. Later, more blocks in the Panchayat area will be connected to this project.

The faecal waste will be collected from households, transported and then processed to produce organic fertiliser. The sludge will be collected from septic tanks and wells of houses. This project is being executed under the Nirmal Bangla project of P&RD department.

“I am thankful to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the project. The environment will be more friendly with the completion of this initiative,” Sukanta Pal, MLA Amta said.