The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) today signed an agreement with the Union Government to provide ¥19,064 million (around ₹1,000 crore) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan.

This is for the development of a sewage collection and treatment infrastructure in Pune city, 13 adjoining villages and the Cantonment area.

The agreement was signed by Tomohide Ichiguchi, Deputy Chief Representative, JICA India Office with S Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.. Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of State for Environment, and KenjiHiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, were present.

Treatment plants



The assistance will facilitate construction of sewer lines, pumping stations and treatment plants for treatment of the sewage before its discharge into Mula, Mutha and Mula-Mutha rivers, thereby mitigating river pollution and enhancing the living environment in Pune and adjoining areas, a statement said.

Currently, around 476 million litres per day (MLD) is treated, while the about 728 MLD is generated. JICA’s assistance will go towards construction of a sewer network of over 113 km, 4 sewage pumping stations and 11 treatment plants of 396 MLD combined capacity.

Equipment monitoring



The sewage treatment plants will be fitted with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system which enables remote control and monitoring of equipment. There will also be 24 community toilet facilities constructed under the assistance.

The project will benefit over 5 million inhabitants in Pune and adjoining areas.

Civil works will be carried out by Pune Municipal Corporation, and are scheduled for completion by 2021. JICA will also assist in designing of the sewage network, management of its construction and application of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Management Information System (MIS) for capacity building of the Pune Municipal Corporation for subsequent operation and maintenance.

JICA has extended ¥124,332 million (approx ₹6,500 crore) in concessional ODA loans for improvement of sewage facilities in various parts of India.