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ShareGandhinagar: With 21 per cent rise in urban population every decade, Gujarat's cities are heading for a population explosion and the warning bells are ringing loud and clear for the state government, which is gearing up to meet the challenges in urban infrastructure.
The state, though boasts of having one of the highest urban populations among all Indian states, does not have in place proper infrastructure to meet the expanding needs.
Thus, in the coming five to ten years, Gujarat cities may face severe crisis of water supply network, sewerage, solid waste clearance, storm water line network among other infrastructural requirements. To ease this, the government has planned massive investments in urban infrastructure development for next few years, almost to the tune of around Rs23,000 crore.
According to highly placed sources in the state government, the gap between demand and supply of urban infrastructure is widening considering the fast pace of urban development, which is going to be major challenge for the state.
At present less than 1/3 of the municipalities are covered under proper sewerage network. The urban local bodies (ULB) are not willing to take up sewerage projects because of the initial high project cost, lack of technical know-how and high operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs.
The government needs huge finances to improve these ULBs. Sardar Sarovar Narmada project has ensured 140 l pcd water supplies. In addition, the state government plans to cover 90% of the population under piped water supply by the year 2011.
This necessitates augmenting the existing sewerage system due to increased water supply scenario. Therefore, there is an urgent need to augment the existing sewerage network and build capacity of ULBs especially for O&M of the infrastructure created. Effluent from the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to natural drains does not comply with the standards laid down by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB). The total capacity of the STPs is often less than the total sewage generated and needs to be treated.''
According to the study conducted by the state urban development department, Gujarat needs to invest Rs23,813 crore in next few years to maintain and improve the growing demand of effective urban infrastructure, sources said, adding that state needs to invest Rs3,913 crore to create water supply network in municipalities. It also requires Rs7,545 crore for new sewerage lines, besides Rs6,177 crore for storm water drainage, Rs986 crore for solid waste disposal, Rs3,994 crore for urban poor housing and Rs1,198 crore for slum infrastructure improvement.
Though the state government has sought around Rs9,694 crore central assistance, generating the remaining funds will also be a great challenge for the state administration, sources opined.
