12 January 2025
Mumbai: Former BJP Corporator Makarand Narwekar has demanded to scrap the proposed Advanced Tertiary Plant (ATP) at Colaba. Concerns were raised after it was reported that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation plans to upgrade its existing Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to ATP and make treated sewage water fit for drinking.
In his letter to BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani, Narwekar pointed out that BMC is using Colaba as a laboratory to experiment to try if residents can drink treated sewage water. “Has the BMC done any feasibility test or heard of any such plant anywhere around the world were treated sewage water is used as drinking water for households? Has the team of BMC visited such plants? These are important questions before committing public money for such projects. If no such studies have been conducted, why are residents being treated as some experiment in a laboratory?” asked Makarand Narwekar, former Colaba corporator.
Narwekar further said that there is a gap in demand and supply of water in Mumbai. “Mumbai requires 4,200 MLD of water daily, of which BMC is able to supply 3,850 MLD. Civic body’s failure to create more resources of potable water for city can’t come at the expense of residents’ health. BMC can install proposed ATP plant in its headquarters as a pilot project for one year. They can’t connect treated sewage water into homes of Colaba residents as it can put their lives at risk. Till now treated sewage water has only been used for non-potable usage like gardening, cleaning of roads which should continue,” remarked Narwekar.
Expressing his opposition to the project, Narwekar demanded vetting this project on international levels before further discussion. “Before taking any further steps regarding Colaba ATP project, an international peer review must be carried out engaging firms who have experience of executing ATP projects. Once a comprehensive and positive peer review is concluded, then only any further discussion on this topic should progress," said Narwekar.