Waste management: Seven ULBS in state to get PBIG grant from World Bank
kolkata: Seven urban local bodies in Bengal are set to receive the Performance Based Incentive Grant ( PBIG) from World Bank for further augmentation of their infrastructure for solid waste, liquid waste as well as faecal sludge management. The grant will be coming under the Second National River Ganga Basin Project (SNRGBP).
“Our dedicated endeavour in management of solid waste, liquid waste and faecal sludge through various interventions have been acknowledged by World Bank and so they have decided to give us a grant for further revamp of the infrastructure of waste management,” a senior official of state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs (UD & MA) department said.
The grant of Rs 11.02 crore has already been sanctioned in the case of five municipalities namely Champdani and Bhadreshwar in Hooghly, Santipur and Chakdah in Nadia and Garulia in North 24-Parganas.
Two other municipalities Haldia in East Midnapore and Maheshtala in South 24-Parganas are under the process of getting the PBIG grant. Under this grant electric crematoria, faecal sludge treatment plant and gobar gas plants will be constructed.
According to sources in the department, in 2022, Bengal was the frontrunner in the completion of sewage treatment plants (STPs) among the five states through which the River Ganga flows. About 17 STPs have been completed under 7 projects.
The estimated sewage generation in Bengal is approximately 4200 MLD, among which 2758 MLD is generated in the urban area and 1400 MLD in rural areas. The existing number of operational STPs, including East Kolkata Wetlands ( EKW) and primary treatment facilities, is 47 and more STPS are being constructed to meet the sewage demand.
East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) which is regarded as the lungs and kidneys of Kolkata alone treat 910 MLD. In private STPs, Bengal caters to 78 MLD.
“We will soon develop and design a master plan for the urban areas for sewage and septage management keeping in mind the projected population of 2042. This will act as a roadmap for effective and efficient pollution management in the state,” the official added.
The UD & MA department has already come up with a Treated Wastewater Re-Use policy for urban Bengal. The treated water is being reused in horticulture in Bhatpara, pisciculture in EKW, gardening in Durgapur, road washing in NKDA (New Town Kolkata Development Authority) and is in process for industrial use in Budge Budge power plant.
