Pune: The Mula-Mutha river pollution abatement project is likely to gather pace as PMC is set to get a Rs50 crore assistance from the state. A Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official on Wednesday said the funds, provided by Centre to state govt, would be utilised for building sewage treatment plants (STPs) for the project. The civic administration was following up on the corpus with the state, and its allotment was expected in a week, the official said.
The civic administration has so far received around Rs 250 crore from Centre. "The administration did not get any funds for the project in the first two quarters of this fiscal. It had hampered the pace of the initiative.
PMC was finding it difficult to make payment of contractors because of funds paucity," said a senior PMC official requesting anonymity. According to PMC officials, funds allocation for the Mula Mutha pollution abatement project was made in the July 2024 Budget. The project was approved with funds of Rs 990.
26 crore. Centre has to pay 85% share amounting to Rs 841.72 crore, while PMC's share is 15% (Rs 148.
54 crore). The project is being planned in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency. The plan includes the construction of 11 STPs and other essential facilities.
"Around 60% of the project work is complete. The funds, to be available in the next few days, will be used for sewage lines and construction of STPs," said Jagdish Khanore, head of the project. The initiative is a long pending dema.
