The Hindu : New Delhi News : Master Plan for minimum flow of waste into the Yamuna

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Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Master Plan for minimum flow of waste into the Yamuna

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of the fact that the Capital's 17 major drains that flow into the Yamuna are a major source of pollution, the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 has suggested ensuring minimum flow of treated and untreated waste into the river.

It has also asked the Delhi Jal Board to lay out sewers in all un-sewered areas of the city and suggested better use of treated effluent.

Describing the capacity of the sewerage system in Delhi as "grossly inadequate" with only about 55 per cent of the population covered under the organised sewerage system and about 15 per cent under on-site sanitation systems, the plan calls for laying regular sewage system by 2021.

Pointing out that development of appropriate sewerage system with efficient sewage treatment is vital to balanced development, the plan calls for augmentation of existing systems and treatment facilities as well as adoption of new technologies of waste treatment.

The plan also calls for improving sewerage and sanitation in an integrated manner.

Rejuvenation

Envisaging rejuvenation of the Yamuna, which is contaminated by the inflow of sewage from the city, the plan has put forth a number of measures including ensuring adequate flow in the river through release of water by riparian States, refurbishment of trunk sewers, treatment of drains, sewering of un-sewered areas, treatment of industrial affluent, recycling of treated effluent and removal of coliforms at sewage treatment plants.

The plan calls for making the existing drainage basins maintained by the Delhi Jal Board self-sustainable in water management by integrating water-sewerage-drainage systems and ensuring that the 130 km length of trunk sewerage and nearly 91 km of sewer lines are in good condition.

Noting that six of the drains -- Najafgarh and Supplementary Drain, Shahdara Drain, drain near Sarita Vihar, the Maharani Bagh Drain, the Barapulla Drain and the Sen Nursing Home Drain -- contribute almost 90 per cent of the flow and 80 per cent bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) load levels respectively, the plan calls for public awareness campaigns to discourage people from throwing garbage into the river or the drains apart from regular de-silting.

An action plan to check flows in Najafgarh Drain and Shahdara Drain has also been recommended.

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