Cleaning the Yamuna and eradicating water pollution in Delhi in the next five years are the priorities of the Delhi Government, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Saturday after he visited a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located in Delhi Gate.
"Yamuna River polluted due to untreated sewage from various water sources across the city run straight into the river, "There are around 35 STPs across Delhi working on eliminating pollutants from these water bodies through technologically advanced mechanisms," Rai said. "These plants are working on purifying untreated water, generating gases that run these sewage plants, and extracting waste from the water which can be made into compost for agricultural use. Our focus is solely on eliminating water pollution from the city," he added.
The newly-appointed Environment Minister also said that the treatment of Najafgarh and Shahdara drains is under process. These two drains contribute about 60 per cent of the total pollution load being discharged into the river. Under the treatment process, the Delhi Government is implementing the Interceptor Sewer Project (ISP) in six packages under which the waste water flowing in these drains will be trapped and will be diverted to STPs for treatment. The Interceptor Sewer Project is likely to be completed by 31st March this year, following which it will come into operation.
The AAP Minister also suggested that close interaction be held with DJB to ensure that the waste water trapped in ISP will be treated to meet the standards that were observed in the STP situated at the Delhi Gate, where the treatment levels are meeting BoD level 6-8 mg/litres, less than 10 mg/liter for which it was designed.
"Our primary focus is on cleaning river Yamuna and eliminating waste from the local water bodies across the city in the next five years, so that effluents from these water bodies are removed before flowing into the river. Once we are successful in achieving this goal, we will also work on developing the riverfront of the Yamuna," he added.
