Pune: Pune Mumbai Expressway that caters to thousands of commuters daily will soon go to green. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is going to put up Organic Waste Converters (OWC) to process solid waste and Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) to treat wastewater on the way.

Vishwas Kanhekar, a consultant who is assisting MSRDC for the project said, “OWCs and STPs will be put up at Sasgoan and Urse food malls and Parandwadi Petrol pump on Mumbai Pune way and at Taje and Lonavala food courts, Sasgoan petrol pump on Pune-Mumbai way. There will be STP at Talegoan toll plaza. Otherwise, there is no waste generation at other places on the way.”

He added, “All four malls generate more than 500-700 kgs of biodegradable waste. Seven OWC will process the waste and convert it to manure. Dry waste will be sent to fill up nearest landfill sites. Wastewater will be treated at STPs and treated water will be used for gardening, flushing and so on.”

The manure produced through processing of solid waste will be used for plants at a median of the expressway, landscape and other plants along the expressway. MSRDC has issued separate tenders for STPs and OWCs for worth Rs 6.47 crore. Contractors after getting finalized are expected to put up plants and begin their operations within four months. They will be maintaining the plants for the next 12 months.

One of the officials from MSRDC said on the condition of anonymity that National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have already directed MSRDC that waste generated at roads under jurisdiction should be treated to avoid pollution. And MSRDC has been mulling over to install STPs and OWCs at expressway for long.