Vishvaraj Infrastructure company main focus is on waste water treatment and supply water in orange city Nagpur 24X7. VIL India made this possible through PPP Model
Mr. Arun Lakhani the CMD of Vishvaraj Infra saw the Waste Water Reuse development as a Civic Necessity and a Business Opportunity. This project went on to become a huge success story with the Orange City Water and also popularly known as Nagpur 24x7 Water Supply project. The citizens of Nagpur are extremely happy and fortunate with the implementation of the waste water reuse model.
Here’s what Arun Lakhani saw differently and thought was it was about time to change. In contrast the demand for fresh water is growing rapidly, estimated to go from 813 BCM today to 1,447 BCM by 2050, whereas the resource base remains constrained at 1,122 BCM. The industrial sector, which is one of the major users of fresh water, mostly puts fresh water to non-potable. Wastewater treated up to secondary level can easily be utilized for this purpose freeing up massive amounts of freshwater for domestic consumers. This can easily be achieved by improving the municipal wastewater collection, treatment and reuse thus not only recycling wastewater which is otherwise lost but also save the downstream water bodies from pollution. This is the win-win proposition of VIL’s model for the all the stakeholders, a unique example of creating value from waste whilst contributing positively to environmental sustainability. Amongst the challenges thrown up by increased urbanization in India one of the bigger ones is massive increase in wastewater generation. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that about 80 percent of the water supplied for domestic use is discharged as wastewater. This pollutes the downstream areas as it enters untreated into these water bodies. Around 38,250 MLD of wastewater is generated by class I and class II cities in India, which is estimated to grow 3.5 times to 132,250 MLD by 2050. The current wastewater treatment capacity can handle only 30 percent of the total generation, out of which too only 55 percent is operational. This translates to an investment gap of over USD 7 Billion for class I and class II cities by 2016-17.
VIL India saw this as a win win situation through the reuse model. The untreated sewage will not only be treated but the treated water will also be reused by thermal power plant or any other industry. Additional potable water currently used by industries will be available for drinking water supply. The urgency of the need of dams or additional infrastructure for meeting the drinking water requirements of the growing population will be pushed by number of years. The client may recover all its investment through the sale of treated water, thus, the STP for them would be constructed without any investment addressing the menace of untreated water.
200 MLD Waste Water Treatment Project in Nagpur. Nagpur is 10th largest Indian city with ~2.5 Mn population; Population is expected to grow to 5 Mn in the next 25 years. 3rd largest and most industrialized city after Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra. The Objective was Providing Sewage Treatment for 200 MLD and possible reuse by potential Customers in Nagpur.
The areas who are hit by the drought drastically particularly Maharashtra is an alarming situation. Here’s what Mr. Arun Lakhani has to say about the rising water crisis. Our 89% of the total available water of around 890 cubic meter goes into agriculture, of the balance 11% goes to industry and drinking water needs are met. We need better management of water. The coverage of piped water, the metering of water and the adequate supply of 24 hours of pressurized water these are the three steps. So to bring first to the equitable water, we need to design the system, invest money into the infrastructure and more importantly have budgets to maintain it what we have already built.
According to HPEAC report in 2011 only 64% of the population received piped supply of water, more than 50% of water losses occurred due to leak in pipes. The duration of water supply is not much; it ranges from an hour to 6 hours daily. The national statistics on number of meters provided to the population stands to the lowest at 4% and only 30% of sewage water is treated as far as larger towns are concerned. Situation is far worse in smaller towns where the figure is as low as 3%. Fortunately for people of Nagpur, the authorities decided to act on time. And Orange City Water was implemented.
What is required is an integrated approach to water management, by integrated approach we need to see the complete water cycle as a whole. So we detect it from a source, then the treatment part then the distribution part then the customer service part. So if you have Nagpur 24x7 in the distribution part that definitely improves not only the water quality & drinking water but also saves water. Then comes the second very important part is the sewage treatment. Sewage treatment and the reuse of sewage treated water complete the cycle.
The entire integrated water management project for Nagpur 24x7 began with a simple concept that we want to have a continuous water supply sustaining Nagpur that means 24x7 water supply has to be provide to all the individual citizens. It was decided to improve the efficiency and bring in the new technology, a private sector expertise & to ensure that equitable water distribution this entire concept of 24x7 water supply or continuous water supply was brought in. Nagpur 24x7 water supply project was conceptualized to convert the terms of water supply to a round the clock one by equitable distribution. The project kicked off with replacement of leaking pipes and house service connection. The target of Nagpur of 24*7 water supply project is to replace 600 kilometers of pipelines in the city and provide 3, 25,000 house service connections. It also aims to provide services like metering, billing, collection and customer service 3, 25,000 consumers. The project aims to undertake the operation and maintenance of water treatment plant to the capacity of 725 million liters per day.
Nagpur Muncipal Corporation decided to act on this matter along with Vishvaraj infrastructure Limited and they are victorious and have achieved good results. Now the citizens of Nagpur get pressurized water supply round the clock.
The water crisis in India has been in the uproar of the nation. With areas touched with drought and no water to drink it’s been a major concern for one and all in the country. Amongst the challenges thrown up by increased urbanization in India one of the bigger ones is massive increase in wastewater generation. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that about 80 percent of the water supplied for domestic use is discharged as wastewater. This pollutes the downstream areas as it enters untreated into these water bodies. Around 38,250 MLD of wastewater is generated by class I and class II cities in India, which is estimated to grow 3.5 times to 132,250 MLD by 2050. The current wastewater treatment capacity can handle only 30 percent of the total generation, out of which too only 55 percent is operational. This translates to an investment gap of over USD 7 Billion for class I and class II cities by 2016-17.
Here is what Mr. Arun Lakhani CMD of Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited, VIL has to say about the situation at hand - What is required is an integrated approach to water management, by integrated approach we need to see the complete water cycle as a whole. So we detect it from a source, then the treatment part then the distribution part then the customer service part. So if you have 24x7 in the distribution part that definitely improves not only the water quality & drinking water but also saves water. Then comes the second very important part is the sewage treatment. Sewage treatment and the reuse of sewage treated water complete the cycle. Sewage treatment or waste water treatment has been on Mr. Arun Lakhani’s mind for a while.
When you begin a project, it is always pertinent by first thinking about the environment. From whether the said project could harm the environment to whether the said project can improve the environment, everything must be looked at with a microscopic eye.
A company that does this is Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL) who has been leading the way, especially in areas or water, waste water and infrastructure and its chairman and director, Mr Arun Lakhani, is a believer of such a policy. Simply put, companies need to address and find solutions based and focused on larger environmental issues.
When industries or companies are looked at, there is a feeling of ruthlessness or coldness. It is difficult, to make people understand that companies look for profits, but they also wish the best for its people.
The importance and the need for the fourth P in PPP, should not be underestimated. Arun Lakhani, chairman and managing director of Vishvaraj Infra (VIL) made his views clear on this topic while addressing Water for billion + People.
It is not a far stretch to state that most government systems have fallen short to deliver the desired level of service to citizens due to lack of accountability in water management. That is why it is time to look at companies like Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd (VIL) who won two major awards in the sector at the recent World Water Leadership Congress & Awards to be given opportunities to play a part.
Simply put, the Government lacks the financial and technical resources to implement complex infrastructure projects. If we have learnt anything from the past is that government systems have failed to deliver desired level of services to the citizens owing to the lack of accountability in the system.
With thePPP module, which VIL India endorses, the company could bring about accountability. A private entity brings in the investment with a long term commitment for the project ensuring performance and maintenance of required service standards.
The company won the presitigious Water Reuse Project of the Year and Mr Arun Lakhani, VIL’s chairman and managing director won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Water. VIL provides global solutions that contribute to sustainable development in the water sector through innovation in the design, construction and operation of drinking water treatment plants, distribution system reforms, etc.
