Decentralised STPs to come up in 600 spots

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to manage the sewerage network in disconnected areas, mainly in unauthorised colonies, the Delhi government has identified at least 600 locations to install decentralised sewage treatment plants (STP).

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a meeting with Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, where he was told about the 600 locations, mostly in unauthorised colonies and villages of Delhi.

The decentralised STPs will collect, treat, discharge or reuse the sewage water.

These plants are most useful in regions or clusters which are not connected with the central or main sewage line of the city.

"These locations are the first phase of the large number of decentralised STPs to be set-up all over Delhi, especially in the unauthorised colonies.

The DJB has to identify locations all over Delhi in huge numbers for decentralised STPs," said a Delhi government statement.

DJB officials said the treated water from decentralised STPs will be used for water body recharge, horticulture and other non-potable uses.

"The decentralised STPs would not only solve the crisis faced due to sewage, but will also produce huge amount of recycled water," the government statement further said.

A day after he had taken charge of the Delhi Water department, the Chief Minister had visited three decentralised STP's in the New Delhi Municipal Council area.

These included the STPs in Nehru Park, Satya Sadan and NP Bengali Government School in Gole Market.

Kejriwal then asked DJB to come up with a road-map to construct decentralised STPs all over the national Capital.

The Delhi government found that the existing STPs in the city had many issues regarding their functioning and monitoring.

It also found that to maintain the sewage of the city, decentralised STPs are the only feasible option.

Sources in the Delhi government said that since taking charge of the Water department, one of the prime focus areas of the CM was STPs.

Meanwhile, DJB officials asserted that the government is continuously monitoring the existing STPs.

This new initiative

would also help in maintaining sanitation in unauthorised colonies.

If the first phase of construction of these STPs works well, the government will construct make much more STPs in the subsequent phase.

The CM, along with senior officials of the DJB, is also working on a proper roadmap of this project.

Officials said that if the entire plan is well executed, the Capital's sewerage problem would be resolved.

It will moreover help to keep the Yamuna river clean, the pollution of which is a major problem in the city.