New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday laid the foundation for 43 projects worth Rs 8,941 crore aimed at cleaning the Yamuna river.
Shah said the Delhi government has successfully reduced sewer discharge into the Yamuna, and he pledged that the BJP government would ensure the river is cleaned in Delhi by May 2029.
“These projects are like the backbone of cleaning the Yamuna river. The Centre, Delhi government, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, these ‘four engines’ are working together to provide a clean Yamuna and drinking water to the public,” Shah said while addressing the public.
The launched projects include a new sewage treatment plant (STP) at Okhla, 29 decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), and new sewer lines. The inauguration took place in Najafgarh.
“Previous governments only used to make excuses, but now the current BJP government will clean the Yamuna before May 2029. The plan is to provide sewer connection and clean drinking water to every household in three years,” Shah added.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Verma were also present at the inauguration event. “Under these projects, new sewage treatment plants will be built, the capacity of old plants will be increased, the sewer network will be expanded, and drainage arrangements will be improved. This will greatly help in preventing dirty water from entering the Yamuna,” Gupta 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 was launched.
Among the major projects is a new sewage treatment plant at Okhla with a capacity of 124 million gallons per day (MGD). This is the biggest STP in the national capital, constructed jointly by the Centre and Delhi government.
The Delhi government is also replacing the old water treatment plant at Chandrawal with a new facility that will have a capacity of 477 million litres per day (MLD), for which a foundation-laying ceremony was held.
Water Minister Verma stated that these projects will bolster the Delhi government’s efforts to clean the Yamuna.
“Through these projects, key initiatives such as the development of water treatment plants, expansion of the sewer network, enhancement of wastewater treatment capacity, and improvement of the drainage system will gain momentum,” Verma said.
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