Surat: The city has reinforced its standing as a national leader in urban water management, securing over Rs 100 crore in incentives under the Union govt’s AMRUT 2.0 mission after its sewage treatment plants consistently delivered top-rated performance in the Jal Hi Amrit campaign.The city civic body achieved a major milestone as 17 sewage treatment plants (STPs) operated by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) maintained high-performance ratings in the recently concluded Phase III assessment by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.In the earlier Phase I and II assessments, 19 of Surat’s 20 STPs secured five-star Clean Water Credit ratings, while one plant received a four-star rating. This performance helped Surat claim Rs 73.33 crore from Gujarat’s total incentive allocation of Rs 114.63 crore.Following the Phase III results, Surat received an additional Rs 27.23 crore from the state’s Rs 32.53 crore incentive pool, taking its total incentive grant under the programme to Rs 100.55 crore.SMC currently treats 1,320 MLD (million litres per day) of wastewater across its 20 STPs. Surat has also emerged as a national leader in supplying tertiary-treated water to industries, reducing the burden on freshwater resources.The city’s Anjana STP drew national attention for implementing Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) technology. The Centre for Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) subsequently issued guidelines recommending its adoption across the country.SMC plans to utilise the incentive funds to modernise its sewage treatment infrastructure and integrate renewable energy solutions at its STPs.
