The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday inspected the 564 MLD Okhla Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) which is currently being constructed under the Yamuna Action Plan-III for which funds are being provided by the Centre. The total sanction cost of the Okhla STP project is Rs 665.78 crore.
Shekhawat first visited the Chhat Ghat at ITO and took a boat from there to reach Okhla Boat Club, 12 kilometers away. From there, Shekhawat reached the Okhla STP site by road. Director-General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, G Asok Kumar was also present during the inspection. At the Okhla Sewage Treatment complex there are six wastewater treatment plants - Phase-I (136 MLD), Phase-II (55 MLD), Phase-III (205 MLD), phase-IV (168 MLD), Phase-V (73 MLD) and Phase-VI (136 MLD). The existing Phase-I, II, III and IV plants were constructed before 1993. As the old plants outlived their life, it was decided that a new STP of combined capacity of Phase I, II, III & IV (136+55+205+168) = 564 MLD must be constructed with stringent effluent parameters, including removal of biological nutrients.
Shekhawat said that considering the situation in Delhi, it has been directed to expedite the STP works in Delhi, keeping in mind December 2022 timeline. He added that after December 2022, a difference will certainly be felt in quality of water as Okhla STP is biggest sewage treatment plant in Asia. After construction of this 564 MLD, there will be a considerable improvement in the water quality of River Yamuna. Being an integrated project, the sludge management has also been included in scope of work, as per which, the sludge will be properly disposed in a scientific manner addressing environment-related issues.
As per the cost sharing arrangement of the Okhla STP, 85 per cent of the cost is borne by the Centre under the Namami Gange Programme and 15 per cent by State Government.
At presently in Delhi, under the Namami Gange Programme, a total of 11 projects for treatment of 1,268 MLD sewage have been taken up at a cost of Rs 2,009 crore by the NMCG to conserve River Yamuna. The major share of these projects is being borne by Central Government through Namami Gange Programme.
These projects are targeted to create a total treatment capacity of 1268 MLD in the catchment area of Coronation Pillar (Coronation Pillar STP completed), Kondli, Okhla and Rithala in Delhi. These projects are targeted to be completed by December 2022.