Pune: The civic administration has mandated that nearly 750 housing societies under its jurisdiction install sensors to allow proper monitoring of sewage treatment plants in these residential complexes. According to officials of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), all residential complexes with more than 100 flats are required to treat their wastewater within their premises. “The sensors will help determine whether the STPs (sewage treatment plants) are operating efficiently. These housing societies are responsible for managing the sewage they generate. Those failing to do so will be required to take corrective action,” Prithviraj BP, additional commissioner, PMC, said.The officials said the initiative aimed to curb the release of untreated wastewater and reduce water pollution. With rapid urbanisation leading to a significant rise in sewage generation and putting pressure on municipal STPs, PMC had earlier mandated societies to process sewage locally.“Maintenance of these facilities is time-consuming. Many societies keep them shut to avoid operational expenses. This practice adversely affects the city’s sewage treatment levels, making real-time monitoring through sensors essential,” a senior PMC official said.The civic body is already using similar sensors at STPs constructed under the Mula-Mutha River Pollution Abatement Project. The same technology will now be deployed in housing societies, with performance data monitored centrally at PMC headquarters. Besides, PMC has mandated the installation of air pollution-monitoring sensors at ongoing construction sites within municipal limits. The corporation is also planning to upgrade six STPs located along the Mula and Mutha rivers at multiple locations.This upgrade project will receive funding under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. It is expected to enhance the city’s sewage treatment capacity. “Along with improving the six existing plants, PMC is also developing 11 new STPs under the Mula-Mutha Pollution Abatement Project,” another official said.At present, PMC treats around 630 MLD of the 980 MLD of sewage generated daily. After the planned upgrades and expansions, the treatment capacity is expected to increase to 1,000 MLD.
