Delhi Jal Board: Corruption and Failing Sewage Treatment Plants

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been under the spotlight for years, over the capital's dismal water management and the poor performance of its sewage treatment plants. The DJB, responsible for supplying potable water to millions, has often been found wanting, especially during peak summer months when water shortages become a grim reality for many residents.

The heart of the issue lies in the antiquated and overburdened infrastructure. Many of Delhi's sewage treatment plants, designed decades ago, are woefully inadequate in their water treatment capacities. The lack of efficient maintenance and modernisation efforts has only worsened the problem. But what is even worse is when the Delhi Jal Board finds itself mired in allegations of corruption. 

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against Euroteck Environmental Private Limited and several other entities, accusing them of orchestrating a scam within the DJB. The allegations revolve around purported irregularities in the augmentation and upgradation of ten sewage treatment plants, projects that were crucial for improving Delhi's deteriorating water infrastructure.

Multiple teams from the ED conducted extensive search operations on July 3 in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. According to the probe agency, various incriminating documents and digital evidence were found and seized, directly linking the Delhi Jal Board to the alleged scam. The First Information Report (FIR) claims that the DJB awarded tenders valued at over 1900 crore rupees at inflated rates, causing substantial losses to the public exchequer.

While many may argue that the ED's actions against the Delhi government are politically motivated, there is no smoke without fire. The corruption allegations and subsequent raids shed to light deeper issues within the Delhi Jal Board that cannot be ignored.

Last year, The Probe published a detailed investigation highlighting the dire conditions of Delhi's sewage treatment plants. Our report revealed that many of these facilities were operating far below capacity, struggling with outdated technology and insufficient maintenance. We exposed how untreated or poorly treated sewage was being discharged into water bodies, posing severe environmental and public health risks. Despite these glaring issues, the Delhi Jal Board appeared to be doing little to remedy the situation, with promises of upgrades and improvements remaining largely unfulfilled.

According to data by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the situation is even more alarming. Out of about 35 operational Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Delhi, 22 have not conformed to the prescribed standards, as per the DPCC report last year. This means that a significant majority of the city's STPs are failing to meet basic environmental and health safety criteria. Reports indicate that over 75% of these facilities are unable to adequately reduce faecal coliform levels, a critical marker of pollution in river water.

The inability to control faecal coliform levels poses a severe threat to public health and the environment. Faecal coliform bacteria, originating from human and animal waste, can cause a range of waterborne diseases, including gastrointestinal infections, dysentery, and hepatitis. The presence of these bacteria in such high concentrations suggests that the water being discharged from these STPs into the Yamuna River and other water bodies is not only untreated but potentially hazardous.

One of the primary reasons for this failure is the lack of necessary technological capabilities in the STPs. Most of these plants do not have the required infrastructure for effective bacterial disinfection. Modern STPs require advanced treatment technologies, such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection or chlorination, to effectively eliminate harmful bacteria. However, many of Delhi’s STPs are still reliant on outdated and inadequate processes that cannot achieve the desired level of purification.

Public Trust in DJB Eroded by Corruption

It is in this context that there has been a growing clamour for the technological upgradation of the existing STPs. The outdated infrastructure and inadequate treatment capabilities had made it crucial for authorities to modernise these facilities. The ED has stated that the ‘STP scam’ might be more than what meets the eye, prompting the agency to register a money laundering case. The recent developments have intensified public concern, as Delhiites are now questioning why the quality of the water they consume is being compromised to such a severe extent.

A report submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to the National Mission for Clean Ganga last year reveals a startling statistic: around 31% of the sewage generated in Delhi continues to remain untreated. This untreated sewage, amounting to millions of litres daily, is discharged directly into the Yamuna River and other water bodies posing severe health risks to the city's population.

The untreated sewage not only contaminates the river but also contributes to the depletion of oxygen levels in the water, adversely affecting aquatic life and disrupting the entire ecosystem. This alarming percentage of untreated sewage shows the glaring inefficiencies within Delhi's sewage management system.

The recent developments involving the ED's action against the DJB are nothing new for the beleaguered water authority. The DJB has consistently found itself mired in controversy, not for its efforts to make water safe and accessible for Delhiites, but for repeated allegations of corruption. 

Just last month, another scandal surfaced when the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) registered a case against a former DJB consultant. The allegations centred around corruption in the procurement of machinery for the creation of a waterbody in the Rohini sewage treatment plant. The case has further tainted the DJB's reputation, as the ACB is now investigating the potential involvement of DJB officials in the corruption scheme.

These recurring corruption scandals have eroded public trust in the DJB, raising serious concerns about the integrity and transparency of its operations. The frequency and gravity of these allegations points to a systemic issue within the organisation that goes beyond isolated incidents. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been blamed by the opposition for turning the DJB into a ‘den of corruption’. The latest set of news could not have come at a worse time for Delhi’s Chief Minister. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy. He remains in judicial custody following his arrest by the CBI.

These developments have intensified the political turmoil surrounding Kejriwal and his administration. The opposition has seized upon these controversies to paint a picture of rampant corruption under his leadership, accusing him of failing to maintain the integrity of critical public services like the DJB. The allegations against the DJB and the Chief Minister’s legal troubles have created a perfect storm, challenging the credibility and governance of the current Delhi administration.

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