Agra to get country’s first vaccum based sewer system.

Why in news?

• The city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh has become the first in India to adopt vacuum-based sewer. These vacuum sewers will be placed in public areas. The maintenance and complete care of the sewers for up to five years will be done by the Netherlands company.
• The vacuum sewer is expected to be deployed in Kochi Municipal Corporation in Kerala after a successful trial in Agra.
• This technology is presently being employed in low-lying areas. Agra Smart City Ltd. has connected roughly 240 houses in the low-lying area near the Taj Mahal to a vacuum-based sewer system for Rs. 5 crores, where traditional sewer systems cannot be utilized.
• In this area, 112 chambers have been built with Geographic Information System (GIS)- based sensors to help locate the chamber’s position and the problem.
• The sewer connection project is estimated to cost Rs. 100 crores. iv.A 53-km sewer pipe has been installed, connecting 60,000 houses.