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Tiruchi Corporation has expedited the construction of the modern sewage treatment plant (STP) at Panjapur, located along Tiruchi–Madurai National Highway. The facility is being established under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, at an estimated cost of ₹220 crore, aimed at meeting the city’s future sewage treatment needs. The new STP, which will replace the existing facility, is designed to treat about 100 million litres a day (MLD) of sewage collected from 50 of the 65 wards in the city. Currently, Tiruchi generates around 50 MLD of sewage. With the city’s sewage generation projected to reach 140 MLD by 2031, the existing STP at Panjapur, which has a capacity of 58.64 MLD, is considered inadequate. The upcoming plant will therefore cater to both the city and nearby village panchayats that are to be included within the corporation limits, officials said. Construction of the facility began in March 2024, and the civic body aims to complete the project by February 2026, with partial commissioning of the STP. Officials have been conducting frequent inspections to monitor progress, and the contractor has been instructed to further expedite the works. The new plant will employ sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology to ensure efficient treatment and prevent seepage. The treated wastewater will meet the standards prescribed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), making it suitable for reuse, according to Corporation officials. The existing STP, established a few decades ago under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP), uses a waste stabilisation pond system and occupies about 247.5 acres. It currently treats only 58.64 MLD of sewage. In contrast, the new 100 MLD plant is being constructed on just 20 acres, reflecting the efficiency of the modern design. Once the new STP becomes operational, the Corporation plans to dismantle the old plant and repurpose the land for other developmental projects.
