Government says expanded treatment infrastructure will help restore the Yamuna and reduce pollution.
The BJP-led Delhi government has approved one of the biggest investments ever earmarked for cleaning the Yamuna, with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) clearing a comprehensive package of river rejuvenation projects worth nearly Rs 4,500 crore. The projects are aimed at preventing untreated sewage from entering the river by significantly expanding Delhi’s sewerage and wastewater treatment infrastructure. The move is being projected by the government as another major step towards fulfilling the BJP’s pre-election promise of restoring the Yamuna.
The proposals, approved during the 179th meeting of the Delhi Jal Board earlier this week, include the construction of 15 new Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs), expansion of sewer networks, upgradation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), creation of sludge management facilities, in-situ treatment of drains and several other measures designed to strengthen the Capital’s wastewater management system. With the latest approvals, the number of DSTPs under implementation in Delhi has increased to 28, comprising 13 projects sanctioned earlier and 15 newly awarded plants. The government says this represents one of the largest expansions of the city’s sewage treatment infrastructure in recent years.
Delhi currently generates nearly 1,000 nearly Rs 1,600 crore, ensuring sewage reaches treatment plants instead of polluting the river. million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage. According to the government, the city’s sewage treatment capacity stood at 749 MGD when the present administration assumed office, resulting in a substantial treatment shortfall. The government said the rehabilitation and upgradation of existing sewage treatment plants have already increased treatment capacity to 814 MGD. Once all 28 DSTPs become operational, they will add another 227 MGD, taking Delhi’s total treatment capacity to 1,041 MGD—surpassing the volume of sewage generated in the city every day. Delhi Water Minister and Delhi Jal Board Chairman Parvesh Sahib Singh said the government’s Yamuna rejuvenation strategy focuses on creating infrastructure to stop untreated sewage from entering the river. He said the city would, for the first time, have the capacity to treat more sewage than it generates, calling it a major milestone in Delhi’s mission to clean the Yamuna.
The 15 newly approved DSTPs, involving an investment of nearly Rs 2,000 crore, will add 103.5 MGD of treatment capacity and benefit around 20 lakh residents, particularly in areas lacking adequate sewer infrastructure. Singh said the projects aim to prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into drains and ultimately the Yamuna. To complement the treatment plants, the Delhi Jal Board has approved the laying of 989 km of sewer lines and household sewer connections in 244 colonies and 57 villages at a cost of Singh further said all 15 DSTPs are scheduled for completion within 21 months, adding that the projects moved from planning to award in less than a year through coordinated execution. “Our focus is on delivering results on the ground, not merely making announcements,” he said.
Alongside the new projects, the Delhi government is upgrading existing sewage treatment infrastructure by increasing the capacity of existing STPs from 66 MGD to 86.8 MGD and constructing a new 35 MGD STP, with a combined investment of Rs 918 crore. The Delhi Jal Board has also approved Rs 274 crore for sludge management facilities at 10 existing STPs, including Coronation Pillar, Keshopur, Rithala, Narela and Rohini, to ensure scientific treatment and safe disposal of sludge. Additionally, Rs 65 crore has been sanctioned for the in-situ treatment of the Delhi Gate Drain to curb pollution before it reaches the Yamuna. To improve efficiency, the government has introduced a performance-based monitoring system for sewage treatment plants, linking operator payments to the quality of treated water. Emphasising the government’s long-term strategy, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the Yamuna would be restored not through “slogans” but by ensuring universal sewer connectivity and treatment of every drop of sewage.
