Pirana STP Machinery Destroyed 9 Years Ahead of Lifespan, AMC to Spend ₹12 Cr on Replacement

Ahmedabad: Corrosive industrial effluent illegally dumped into municipal drainage lines has severely corroded pumping station machinery at the 180 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Pirana, cutting its operational lifespan from an expected 25 years down to just 16. The premature destruction of the heavy equipment has left the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) facing a ₹12-crore replacement bill, placing a substantial financial burden on the public exchequer.

According to official sources, untreated chemical-laden wastewater regularly enters the municipal sewerage network from eastern industrial belts including Danilimda, Behrampura, and Narol. Corrosive discharge also originates from Shahpur and Dudheshwar in the Central Zone, alongside untreated industrial trade effluents released across various clusters in the North, East, and South zones.

Continuous exposure to chemical pollutants has rusted and degraded the heavy pumping infrastructure, necessitating a complete overhaul years ahead of schedule.

Chain Reaction Across Ahmedabad Sewage Plants

The destruction at the 180 MLD Pirana facility is part of a wider trend impacting municipal drainage assets across the city. Similar machinery replacement projects have already been required at the Vasna STP, while further overhauls are scheduled across other key processing sites:

• 155 MLD Pirana STP: Pumping station machinery will be replaced immediately following the completion of works at the 180 MLD plant.
• Vinjol STP: Pumping machinery damaged by chemical erosion is slated for replacement in the coming phase.
• Vasna STP: Pumping station machinery was previously replaced after sustaining chemical damage.

Regulatory Oversight Questioned Despite High Court Scrutiny

The issue of illegal trade effluent discharge previously gained prominence during legal proceedings concerning Sabarmati river pollution. Investigations revealed that industrial units were dumping untreated chemicals via illegal drainage connections, while private trunk lines discharged effluent directly into the river downstream of the Vasna Barrage.

Following strict orders from the Gujarat High Court, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and AMC’s engineering department initiated enforcement actions against defaulting units. While factories officially record treating wastewater through captive treatment plants prior to discharge, the premature degradation of municipal machinery raises sharp questions regarding ongoing monitoring, inspection protocols, and compliance enforcement by GPCB and civic engineering authorities.