New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) In a step towards cleaning of Yamuna, the Delhi government has approved setting up of 15 new decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), water minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Wednesday.
Singh said the government has approved the proposal in its board meeting and adopted a comprehensive infrastructure-led approach to restore the Yamuna by addressing the problem at its source.
“People often ask when the Yamuna will become clean. The answer lies in building the right infrastructure. When the present government assumed office, the sewage treatment capacity stood at only 749 million gallons per day (MGD), leaving a substantial treatment gap, now we plan to increase it to 1,041 MGD,” Singh said.
Delhi currently generates nearly 1,000 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage and the current treatment capacity is around 814 MGD at present. The DJB plans to complete the projects by 2028.
“With these approvals, the DJB will now have 28 DSTPs under implementation, including 13 DSTPs approved earlier and 15 newly awarded projects. The target is to ultimately have 1,041 MGD of sewage treatment capacity after completion of all approved projects,” he added.
The new DSTPs form part of a larger sewer infrastructure programme that also includes the laying of 989 kilometres of new sewer network and providing house sewer connections across 244 colonies and 57 villages, he added.
The water minister said that “within less than a year, the DJB completed land identification, feasibility studies, preparation of detailed project reports, appointment of consultants, design approvals, tendering and award of these projects”.
The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 2,000 crore for the newly awarded 15 DSTPs which will increase the overall sewage treatment capacity by around 103.5 MGD, benefitting around 20 lakh people.
To improve long-term sustainability, the DJB has also approved sludge management facilities at 10 existing STPs located at Coronation Pillar, Keshopur, Rithala, Narela and Rohini.
“The Rs 274 crore project will ensure scientific treatment, safe disposal and productive utilisation of sludge generated during sewage treatment,” he added.
The DJB has also approved a proposal the in-situ treatment of the Delhi Gate Drain at a cost of Rs 65 crore. This initiative will improve the quality of water entering the Yamuna while reducing pollution at source. PTI SSM NB
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