Andhra Pradesh: UN Team Inspects Sewage Plants in Vijayawada City Limits
Vijayawada: A team of the United Nations Development Organisation (UNDO) visited the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation limits to assess the progress of the Rs 11 crore projects funded under the Global Environmental Friendly (GEF) cities programme here.
Vijayawada is among the 28 cities across 11 developing nations – along with Mysuru, Jaipur, Bhopal and Guntur -- where the GEF-UNIDO sustainable cities integrated approach (SCIAP) pilot project was implemented in collaboration with the Union housing and urban affairs ministry. It aims at contributing to sustainable development by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The UN team comprised UNIDO Vienna’s international consultant, project coordinator Tomasz Pawelec; senior technical adviser, SCIAP, Nanda Pal Singh; and senior technical advisor, SCIAP India, UNIDO, Venkata Ramana Rao Perkari. VMC commissioner Swapnil Pundkar was present with the UN team.
The VMC chief explained to the assessment team about the GEF-funded project titled "Rejuvenation of STPs and DP Stations and Installation of Biogas Energy Plants in VMC." The commissioner highlighted the project's impact in reducing carbon emissions and lowering biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels, aligning with National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms.
The Bio Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in all STPs are lower, which indicates the improvement in the treatment of water.
The four key components under UNIDO SCIAP India in Vijayawada include strategic sustainable city planning, investment and technology demonstration projects, capacity building for municipal officials and elected representatives in water and sanitation sectors, and assistance in improving the financial creditworthiness of urban local bodies.
