Delhi Jal Board starts process of cleaning Yamuna river

Taking its maiden step towards cleaning Yamuna, Delhi Jal Board on Monday launched the first phase of its 59-km interceptor sewer project which will ensure that only treated sewage is discharged into the 3 major drains which release water in the river.

Interceptor Sewer Project will improve the water quality of the river Yamuna by commissioning of wastewater intercepting sewer along the three major drains, viz, Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdara.

Union Urban Devlopment Minister M Venkaiah Naidu launched the first phase of the interceptor sewer project.

“This is a very big step towards cleaning the Yamuna in the national capital. Today, Yamuna is very dirty and we want to clean Yamuna and this plant is helpful in this regard.”

“DJB has also set up water ATMs, where the cost is very nominal. People can buy one litre water for Rs 20 paise,” Naidu said while addressing a gathering.

The minister, who came to the event venue by Metro, said, “With this plant 60 per cent cleaning of Yamuna will be completed and government has plans to clear its remaining part. Our government aims to clean Ganga as well as Yamuna.”

Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also present, said that every citizen has right to drink clean water and people can take water through DJB water ATMs at nominal price.

“I want to thank DJB to have come up with such technology and people should benefit through this scheme,” Pradhan said.

The first package of interceptor sewer takes sewage from the Palam drain in Dwarka to the Pappankalan Sewage Treatment Plant.

According to DJB, six to 10 MGD to sewage treatment by the first package will be done and overall 210 MGD of sewage will be diverted for treatment when the project is complete in June next year.

The project is divided into 6 different packages and involves interception of sewage flowing in around 180 subsidiary small drains and conveying it to the nearest Sewage Treatment Plants to ensure that only treated sewage is discharged into major drains.

“Our aim is to implement 80 to 90 DJB water ATMs till March 2015. And, 400 water ATMs are proposed to be implement in next year,” DJB CEO Vijay Kumar said.