Finally, work on Colaba sewage plant begins

After scrapping of three tenders in the past four years, work on the 37-million litre capacity Colaba sewage treatment plant will finally start this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has assigned the task to France-based M/s Degremont Ltd for a cost of Rs 564 crore.

Under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP), sewage treatment plants will be set up at seven sites including Colaba, Worli, Ghatkopar, Bandra, Versova, Malad and Bhandup. At the Colaba plant, water collected from Afghan Church, Kitteries Road, Robert Road, Merry Weather Road, NF Road and A ward areas will be treated and discharged into the sea through a 1,200 mm outlet. The BMC has decided to construct a new pumping station and treatment plant for tertiary treatment of sewage water. A senior civic official said, “Of the proposed 37 million litre water capacity plant, 10 ml water will be treated and will be sold to various government and semi-government agencies and private users. The remaining 27 ml water will be later reused phase-wise.”

The BMC had invited an expression of interest from international companies for this project. Out of seven bidders, M/s Degremont Ltd was allotted the work as it emerged the lowest bidder. The civic body will pay Rs 564 crore for construction of the treatment plant and then, for its operation and maintenance for 15 years.