Jal board's clean Yamuna project stuck again following NGTs order

The Delhi Jal Board's contentious ‘interceptor sewage project’, delayed several times, is stuck again – this time when 82 per cent of the work is already complete.

The project, a big step towards cleaning Yamuna, was expected to be completed before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but was finally inaugurated in 2011.

Now it is stuck again as the National Green tribunal (NGT) has restrained the DJB from spending more than Rs 50 crore till it gives its approval.

The NGT had observed in November that despite spending heavily, the pollution level in the river had become worse. It then issued directions to the DJB not to spend more than Rs 50 crore on any project related to the cleaning of Yamuna.

The green panel, which is monitoring the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna' project, reiterated its order in February when it found that the DJB was spending money without its permission.

The worst sufferer of the NGT order is the interceptor sewage project, which involves laying a 59-km trunk sewer. It was already 82 per cent complete and was to be ready by December 2016. It is stalled now.

Under the project, once the interceptor drains are laid and the corresponding treatment plants constructed, the pollution in Yamuna is expected to fall by 60-70 per cent.

The trunk sewer will run along the city’s three major drains – Najafgarh, Shahdara and Supplementary – which carry the majority of the sewage. The process will involve intercepting sewage from several smaller drains that flow into these major drains, which is then conveyed to a treatment plant.

The treated effluent will then be released back into the main drains before they meet Yamuna.   “The project will increase the sewage treatment capacity by 200 MGD. It still requires Rs 500 crore more,” an official said, adding that the DJB will raise this issue before the NGT.