Delhi sewerage infrastructure projects worth ₹8,941 crore will be launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 22, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma said on Monday.
The projects include decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), sewage pumping stations, new sewer lines and upgrades to existing sewage treatment plants (STPs). The launch will take place in the Najafgarh area, Verma said.
The projects aim to expand sewage treatment infrastructure across Delhi and reduce the discharge of untreated wastewater into drains connected to the Yamuna.
Delhi to add 29 decentralised sewage treatment plants
The government plans to establish 29 new DSTPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi. These projects will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting around 36.29 lakh residents, Verma said.
A separate project will involve laying 1,034 km of new sewer network to expand sewage collection infrastructure across the city.
The decentralised plants are intended for areas where space constraints prevent the construction of large STPs. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) plans to use these facilities to address gaps in local sewage treatment.
The Delhi government had previously announced plans to establish around 29 DSTPs through the DJB.
Okhla STP capacity to reach 124 MGD
A major component of the infrastructure programme is a new sewage treatment plant at Okhla, with a capacity of 124 million gallons per day (MGD).
The programme will also upgrade eight existing STPs. Their combined treatment capacity is expected to increase from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD, benefiting around 78.5 lakh people, Verma said.
The minister said the government expects the works to be completed over the next two to two-and-a-half years.
“Once all these works are completed over the next two to two-and-a-half years, no untreated wastewater from Delhi will flow into the drains and, through them, into the Yamuna,” Verma said.
He added that the projects would focus on collecting, treating and reusing sewage to reduce wastewater entering the river.
Delhi government announces ‘Birthday with Yamuna’ initiative
Alongside the infrastructure announcements, Verma introduced a concept called “Birthday with Yamuna”, encouraging residents to celebrate their birthdays on the riverbanks.
He said huts would be built along the Yamuna for people to use during birthday celebrations. Verma also announced that he planned to celebrate his birthday there on November 7.
The minister said nearly 35,000 residents had participated in a recent cleaning drive at the Yamuna ghats.
He said cleaning the ghats demonstrated the government’s efforts, while preventing sewage from entering the river remained a key part of the proposed infrastructure programme.
