DJB okays plans to lay 575km sewage lines in unauthorised colonies

Delhi water minister and Jal Board chairperson Satyendar Jain said the project to develop these new sewer lines will carry wastewater from areas such as Shahbad Dairy, Sangam Vihar, Jafarpur, Galibpur, Sarangpur, Kilokri and Kanganheri to treatment plants.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Saturday approved four projects aimed at cleaning the Yamuna river, including laying 575km of sewage lines in unauthorised colonies and a new sewage pumping station at Kilokri.

Delhi water minister and DJB chairperson Satyendar Jain. (File Photo)

Officials, during a DJB board meeting, also approved the installation of an interceptor sewer line at the entry point of Barapullah drain and also rubber-stamped plans for an upgrade of the Yamuna Vihar sewage treatment facility.

Delhi water minister and DJB chairperson Satyendar Jain said the project to develop 575km of new sewer lines in the unauthorised colonies will carry wastewater from areas like Shahbad Dairy, Sangam Vihar, Jafarpur, Galibpur, Sarangpur, Kilokri and Kanganheri to treatment plants.

“We have also approved the construction of a pumping station at the starting point of the Barapullah drain, which is one of the four major drains falling into Yamuna. The drain will be trapped and diverted to Okhla sewage treatment plant (STP). The facility already has a surplus capacity to treat the waste water,” he added.

The state water utility also approved a ₹78 crore project to upgrade an old sewage treatment plant at Yamuna Vihar and increase its capacity from 10mgd to 15mgd.

Jain said the construction of the interceptor sewer from Barapullah drain to Batla House will cost ₹177.04 crore.

There are 1,799 unauthorised colonies in the national capital. Sewer lines had been commissioned in 685 of them by October-end last year, and the government plans to bring the rest under the sewer network by December 2024.

“Currently, untreated wastewater of about 35mgd flows into the Barapullah and Maharani Bagh drains, and sewage from Taimoor Nagar, Khizrabad and Batla House falls into the Yamuna. An interceptor sewer along the floodplain will be developed along these areas and sewage will be pumped to the Okhla plant,” said the minister.