Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of the Municipality yesterday conducted an inspection visit to the site of the huge sewage water treatment plant, which is coming up at Jebel Ali at a cost of Dhs1.549bn.

The 300,000 cubic metre capacity plant, constructed by Dubai Municipality's Drainage and Irrigation Department, is expected to complete the first part of its first phase in June 2009.

The project has completed 46% of its work so far. Lootah's visit is part of the follow up of the construction work of the ongoing prestigious project and also to ensure that it is executed in an exemplary manner within the scheduled time.

Lootah was accompanied by Eng. Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General for General Projects Affairs, Eng. Taleb Julfar, Director of Drainage and Irrigation Department, Eng. Mohammed Mashroom, Director of General Projects Department and a number of senior officials, project supervising engineers and representatives of the contractors.

During his meeting with the project consultants and contractors, Lootah gave a number of remarks on the project and asked for speedy completion of the work within the scheduled time. He also discussed about the different phases of the project, where more than 3,000 people are working under shift system said Lootah.

He said the project forms part of the civic body's strategic plans to protect environment, review the technology used in the sewage water treatment and design the operations of the Drainage and Irrigation Department by a global consultant company.

Lootah pointed out that the main objective of the project is to provide best solutions in the field of sewage water treatment as the new plant will work along with the current plant at Al Aweer, taking the total capacity to 310,000 cubic metre daily.

He said the new plant will reduce the pressure on the current plant at Al Aweer and contribute more treated water for irrigation purposes aimed at greening the city.

'The plant, which covers an area of 675 hectare, will be fully operational by 2010. In the first phase, which will be finished by the end of 2009, the capacity will be for 150,000 cubic metres,' said Lootah.