Taking a decisive step towards cleaning the Yamuna River, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to conduct a third-party audit of all 37 existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the city. In a recent review meeting with the sewage management wing of DJB, the Minister was apprised of the current capacity and status of ongoing rehabilitation and upgradation works across the capital’s sewage infrastructure.
“We have directed the DJB to carry out a third-party audit of all the STPs to get more clarity on the installed treatment capacity and the actual treatment being carried out,” Verma said on Wednesday.
Out of the 37 STPs currently operational, 18 are undergoing upgradation to improve their performance. Additionally, three new STPs at Sonia Vihar, Delhi Gate, and Okhla are expected to enhance the overall sewage treatment capacity by approximately 47 million gallons per day (MGD). “A substantial amount of untreated sewage is still entering the Yamuna. The Delhi government is committed to reducing this pollution load through comprehensive interventions.
The audit is one such step—once the reports are in, further directives will be issued to improve and expand the sewerage treatment network,” the Minister added. As part of the Delhi government’s continued efforts, the 2025-26 budget includes Rs 500 crore allocated for STP repair and modernisation, along with an additional Rs 250 crore earmarked for replacing old and damaged sewer lines. Officials also noted that 30 out of the 37 STPs are operated by private companies under outsourcing arrangements.
The Water Minister has instructed all such operators to ensure compliance with installed capacity and quality standards. Earlier this month, Verma had announced that Asia’s largest wastewater treatment facility at Okhla—developed by DJB with a capacity of 564 MLD—has been made fully operational.
