Thane municipal corporation plans 100 mld sewage water recycling plant with International Finance Corporation (IFC) support

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation wants to set up a major water treatment plant that would recycle 100 MLD sewage water in the city with the assistance of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Commissioner Saurabh Rao informed.
The corporation is conducting primary level discussions with experts from the IFC to discuss the feasibility of the project along with a few other eco-friendly initiatives to be introduced in the city. It may be noted that following approval of the central govt, local self-govt bodies in the state are provided financial assistance. An agreement has also been signed between the IFC and the state where the former will provide financial assistance to select municipalities in the state, including Thane, an official statement issued by the corporation said.
“The city generates a huge volume of wastewater which can be treated and sold in the open market. Accordingly, we are working on recycling this waste and an action plan is being prepared in collaboration with experts. As part of this, we are considering setting up a purification plant with a 100 million litres capacity to convert wastewater into pure water daily on a pilot basis. The project is expected to cost around Rs 500 crore,” informed Rao.
Officials present for the meeting said that preliminary discussions were held with the IFC to obtain financial assistance through the central govt or international financial institutions. “A study is underway to determine how this fund will be raised and its repayment mode. Discussions on the possible purchasers for this treated water and the selling price for the commodity were also being discussed to analyse its viability,” said an official present for the meeting.
Further, Rao also suggested the possibility of securing financial assistance for other environment-friendly initiatives, including infra projects like improving water supply schemes, sewage disposal channels, solid waste processing centres, and conservation of lakes, among others.