Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch sewerage infrastructure projects worth Rs 8,941 crore in Delhi on October 22, Water Minister Parvesh Verma said on Monday.
Verma also announced a concept called “Birthday with Yamuna”, urging people to celebrate their birthdays on the banks of the river.
“Huts will be built on the Yamuna’s banks where Delhiites can celebrate their birthdays. I appeal to every Delhiite to celebrate your birthday with Mother Yamuna. I will celebrate mine there on November 7,” he said.
The projects, including decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) and new sewer lines, will be launched from the Najafgarh area, Verma said at a press conference.
“Twenty-nine new DSTPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting 36.29 lakh residents. Another project involving the laying of 1,034 km of new sewer network will also be launched,” he said.
Among the major projects is a new sewage treatment plant (STP) with a capacity of 124 million gallons per day (MGD) at Okhla. Eight existing STPs will also be upgraded, increasing their combined capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD and benefiting around 78.5 lakh people, Verma said.
“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. We will then be able to see the impact of these efforts on our sacred river,” he said in a statement.
The Delhi government had earlier announced plans to set up around 29 DSTPs through the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to bridge existing gaps in sewage treatment.
Where large STPs cannot be constructed due to space constraints, the DJB plans to install DSTPs to ensure localised wastewater treatment, Verma said.
“Cleaning the ghats shows our intent. Stopping sewage from reaching the river is the permanent solution. Every drop of sewage will be collected, treated and reused. That is the promise behind these 43 projects,” he added.
Verma also said nearly 35,000 residents participated in a recent cleaning drive at Yamuna ghats.
-PTI
