Dire State of Delhi’s Sewage Treatment Plants Raises Alarming Concerns

Produced below are the abridged version of the transcripts of the video story on the dire state of Delhi’s Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)

The sewage treatment plants in Delhi have long been under scrutiny for their poor water treatment capabilities. However, the situation now is so critical that the poor conditions of these plants are directly impacting both public health and the environment.

During our visits to several STPs across Delhi, such as the Coronation Pillar STP, Kondli Phase IV STP, Mehrauli STP, Molarband STP, Okhla Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4 STPs, and the Yamuna Vihar Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 STPs, we found that most of them had not conformed to the prescribed standards. The poor technological capabilities of the STPs themselves may be one of the major challenges, but this problem runs even deeper. 

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“One of the biggest resettlement colonies in Savda Ghevra doesn’t have a sewage system. So, it is based on septic tanks built under the property. A large population of Delhi, therefore, their sewage is entering the river,” states Depinder Kapur, Programme Director of the Centre for Science and Environment.

Delhi generates 792 MGD of sewage daily and has 35 Sewage Treatment Plants at 20 locations. However, these 35 STPs can only treat a combined total of 632 MGD of sewage, which means that Delhi already has a gap of 160 MGD in its sewage treatment capacity. “One of our important findings in the Centre for Science and Environment’s lab report tests which we have done for STPs is that somehow there are 1 or 2 parameters which most of our STPs cannot handle,” notes Kapur.

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While the Delhi Jal Board has taken steps to improve the capacity and technology of STPs, timely execution is crucial as any more delays could have severe consequences for public health and the environment. “There are about 20 odd numbers of STPs which require upgradation both in terms of technology and capacity. Delhi Jal Board took up these initiatives, and they have identified agencies for retrofitting and upgrading, and they are doing this work against some timelines. The deadline is around mid of next year,” states Mathuria.

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