600 crore water treatment plant in Delhi to bring relief to 20 lakh people

A state-of-the-art water treatment plant has been prepared in Delhi's Chandrawal area at a cost of 600 crore rupees. According to an NDTV India report, the implementation of this project will directly benefit 20 lakh people in the capital. With the construction of this plant, hopes have risen for resolving the long-standing water shortage in densely populated areas like Red Fort, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, and Ballimaran. Additionally, this plant will play an important role in further strengthening the ongoing Yamuna cleaning campaign in Delhi.

On the other hand, the problem of pollution in the Yamuna river remains serious. According to an NDTV report, white foam was once again seen in the waters of the Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj recently. To solve this problem, a Swedish company has now approached the Delhi government. This company specializes in sewage sludge management. A meeting between the representatives of this company and Delhi's Water Minister and Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, Parvesh Verma, was held at the Delhi Secretariat. However, these discussions are currently at a preliminary stage and both parties are exploring the possibilities of collaboration.

A study was presented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) last month regarding how serious the pollution level in the Yamuna river is. In this study, 12 drains were identified as major hotspots of pollution. It was found that waste was being dumped at 32 locations, while the arrangements to stop sewage from entering the river at 11 drains were either inadequate or not working properly. When the river enters Delhi, its water at Palla is fit for bathing, but by the time it reaches the ISBT bridge, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level reaches 30 milligrams per liter, which is 10 times higher than the prescribed limit.

The Delhi government wants to use global technology to reduce this pollution. Water Minister Parvesh Verma stated that the best available technology and global expertise are needed to clean the Yamuna. The government's objective is not only to clean the river but also to improve the overall water and sewage management system of the capital. Earlier in the month of January, the Delhi government started using a 'Watermaster' machine made in Finland in the Najafgarh drain, which helps in removing silt and waste. This drain accounts for about 70 percent of the total pollution dumped into the Yamuna. Apart from this, Japan is also helping Delhi in solving water problems.

The Delhi Jal Board is an autonomous body of the Delhi government, which was responsible for water supply and sewage management in the capital. The main task of this organization has been to provide clean drinking water to the citizens of Delhi and to manage the disposal of sewage. For years, this organization has been working on various projects to meet the increasing urbanization and water demand of Delhi, which also includes efforts for the purification of the Yamuna river.