Amit Shah Launches 43 Yamuna Cleaning Projects, Vows Clean River By May 2029

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday laid the foundation for 43 projects worth Rs 8,941 crore, including the city's biggest STP at Okhla aimed at cleaning the Yamuna river. Shah said the Delhi government has successfully reduced sewer discharge into the Yamuna, and he pledged that the BJP government would ensure the river is cleaned in Delhi by May 2029.

The launched projects include a new sewage treatment plant (STP) at Okhla, 29 decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), and new sewer lines. The inauguration took place in Najafgarh.

"These projects are like the backbone of cleaning the Yamuna river. The Centre, Delhi government, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, these 'four engines' are working together to provide a clean Yamuna and drinking water to the public," Shah said while addressing the public.

Touted to be the biggest STP in the country and Delhi, DJB officials said that the new 124 million gallons per day (MGD) plant has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,161 crore.

The plant is a joint venture between the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Delhi Jal Board, originally sanctioned in 2017.

"Built under the Yamuna Action Plan-III, the plant will treat wastewater. Arrangements have also been made to ensure that the treated water meets prescribed standards and to generate energy. The project is expected to benefit around 70 lakh people in the Okhla area," a DJB official said.

Previous governments only used to make excuses, but now the current BJP government will clean the Yamuna before May 2029. The plan is to provide sewer connection and clean drinking water to every household in three years, Shah added.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Verma were also present at the inauguration.

"Under these projects, new sewage treatment plants will be built, the capacity of old plants will be increased, the sewer network will be expanded, and drainage arrangements will be improved. This will greatly help in preventing dirty water from entering the Yamuna," Gupta said.

Twenty-nine new DSTPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting 36.29 lakh residents in Narela, Bawana, Kanjhawala, Bijwasan, Tikri Kalan and nearby areas.

"The decentralised STPs and sewage pumping stations will be constructed at the cost of Rs 3,113.67 crore," Gupta added.

Another project involving the laying of 1,034 kilometre of new sewer network was launched, costing around Rs 1,691 crore benefitting around 25.82 lakh people.

The Delhi government is also replacing the old water treatment plant at Chandrawal with a new facility that will have a capacity of 477 million litres per day (MLD), for which a foundation-laying ceremony was held.

The new plant, which will benefit around 22 lakh residents, will be constructed at the cost of Rs 298.3 crore, replacing two old WTPs set up in 1935 and 1955.

Water Minister Verma stated that these projects will bolster the Delhi government's efforts to clean the Yamuna.

"Through these projects, key initiatives such as the development of water treatment plants, expansion of the sewer network, enhancement of wastewater treatment capacity, and improvement of the drainage system will gain momentum," Verma said.

He said the aim behind these projects will be to intercept sewage that reaches the Yamuna, treat it and reuse it instead.