Rs 826 crore Central grant for Musi-II

HYDERABAD: The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has given sanction for Rs 826 crore for phase-II of the Abatement of Pollution in River Musi project under the National River Conservation Directorate.The phase-II includes construction of sewage treatment plants of total 610 MLD capacity at 10 locations, laying of conveying mains to STPs for 74.7 km along the Musi, construction of eight Intervention and Diversion plants and refurbishment of old sewers for 14.8 km.The project cost for 10 STPs is Rs 477.90 crore, conveying mains is Rs 259.20 crore, I&D plants Rs 24.04 crore, refurbishment of old sewers Rs 26.76 crore and land acquisition Rs 38 crore.The Centre will provide 70 percent while remaining will be borne by the state government.A four-member delegation of secretary MoEF, Tishya Chatterjee, joint secretary Rajiv Gauga and NRCD directors Rajiv Sinha and Balwani inspected the STP at Amberpet built for the phase-I of the Musi conservation scheme. Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials informed all components of phase-I have been completed except one STP at Attapur, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.Board officials also said they gave a detailed presentation on requirements of the phase-II project. Officials added they had submitted a Detailed Project Report to the state government, NRCD and MoEF and the government forwarded it to MoEF last month itself.The NRCD have entrusted the DPR to an expert institution for technical appraisal.