Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched projects worth Rs 8,941 for Yamuna river cleaning in Delhi on Thursday, including a new sewage treatment plant (STP), several decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), and new sewer lines.
Among the major projects is a new sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 124 million gallons per day (MGD) at Okhla, which will be the biggest STP in the national capital, constructed jointly by Centre and Delhi government.
Alongside this, eight existing STPs will be upgraded, increasing their combined capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD, benefiting around 78.5 lakh people.
According to officials, once all these works are complete — to be executed 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.
Speaking at the inauguration event, he said, "I am here among you in Dwarka for the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies of significant projects worth Rs 9,000 crore, aimed at the purification of the Yamuna."
These projects serve as the backbone for the cleaning of the Yamuna, he said, adding that the initiatives emcompass both the treatment of wastewater and various initiatives related to drinking water.
"Immediately after the formation of the govt in Delhi, our PM Modi convened a major meeting within the very first month. He presented his vision for purifying the Yamuna to the Delhi govt and the Ministry of Home Affairs... In such a short span, we have already covered more than 40% of the journey toward this goal," Shah said.
"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," Water Minister Parvesh Verma said earlier.