City unveils Rs 4,500 cr push to clean Yamuna

New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has approved an ambitious Yamuna rejuvenation package worth nearly ₹4,500 crore, clearing a series of infrastructure projects aimed at preventing untreated sewage from flowing into the river. The package includes 15 newly awarded Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs), expansion of the city’s sewer network, upgrades to existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), sludge management facilities, in-situ drain treatment and a new performance-based monitoring system for sewage treatment operations. According to the Delhi Jal Board, the latest approvals raise the total number of DSTPs under implementation to 28, with 13 projects approved earlier and 15 new plants now entering the execution phase. Once completed, the projects are expected to transform Delhi’s sewage treatment network and significantly reduce pollution entering the Yamuna.

Speaking after the 179th meeting of the Delhi Jal Board, Water Minister and DJB Chairman Parvesh Sahib Singh said the government has shifted its focus towards creating permanent infrastructure capable of addressing the root cause of river pollution.

According to Singh, the Yamuna cannot be restored unless every drop of wastewater generated in the city is collected, transported and treated before reaching drains that eventually discharge into the river. He said the approved projects are designed to build that complete treatment ecosystem.

Delhi currently produces around 1,000 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage. According to the Minister, when the present government assumed office, the city’s treatment capacity stood at only 749 MGD, leaving a substantial volume of sewage untreated.