India's 'largest' Sewage Treatment Plant to come up in Okhla

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat laid the foundation stone for India's 'largest' Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Okhla here on Monday. The STP will treat 56.4 crore litres of waste water per day. On the occasion, Kejriwal said, "I am very happy that we are laying the foundation stone for the country's largest sewage treatment plant in Delhi. I want to thank the Central government for its support in this project. Not only is the Centre providing 85 percent funding for this project, it has also been a supportive partner along the way."

Further commenting on the groundwater depletion in the country, he said, "There are only two solutions before us at this juncture: water recycling and recharge. Delhi's population is growing very rapidly and we do not have our own source of water. Together with the Centre, we are working on a massive groundwater recharge program on the floodplains of the Yamuna."

Speaking about the steps being taken by Delhi government towards recycling of water, CM said, "Delhi's Coronation Plant is the first experiment in our country, along the lines of what Singapore does to treat it's water. Treated water will be let into the Yamuna at Palla and collected at Wazirabad. The water will get naturally treated due to the river flow and this experiment has tremendous potential to meet India's water needs."

Proposing a similar use for the 500 MLD water that will be generated at the Okhla plant, the chief minister proposed, "If we release this 56.4 crore litres of water into the Yamuna, it will flow downstream into the part of Haryana that is woefully short of agricultural water for irrigation. If Haryana reciprocates and releases an equal amount of water downstream into Delhi from the Northern part of the river, it will satisfy Delhi's drinking water needs as well. This could be hugely beneficial for both states."

During his address at the function, Union Minister Shekhawat stated, "We need to start using new water (treated water) for agricultural and industrial purposes. Towards this, CM Kejriwal's proposal is very good and I will consider it seriously. The 500 MLD water that this plant will generate is a huge resource and we need to ensure it is used productively and not wasted."

"Water conservation needs to become a public movement for every citizen of Delhi and India. We will have to rise above our political and personal beliefs and unite to conserve water. The foundation stone being laid today is for 500 MLD out of the 2000 MLD capacity of water treatment plants that the Centre and Delhi are working on together. Of the 298 projects sanctioned for cleaning the Yamuna, 14 are in Delhi," the Union minister added.

It may be mentioned that the new plant will have provision of online monitoring of quality parameters of effluent, SCADA, power generation from biogas and sludge management. Disposal of sludge in a scientific manner will address environment related issues.

The plant is being constructed under Yamuna Action Plan–III for which 85 percent funds are being provided by Government of India from loan received from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and remaining 15 percent by Delhi government.

DJB CEO Nikhil Kumar welcomed all the guests on the occasion and briefed the gathering on the salient features and importance of the upcoming STP at Okhla. The function was also attended by Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, DJB VC Dinesh Mohaniya and other senior officials of the Delhi Jal Board.