The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new plan for a clean Yamuna

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Sunday, Apr 15, 2007
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New Delhi

A new plan for a clean Yamuna

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Union Ministry to use treated sewage water for the greens, including Ridge

NEW DELHI: In what holds out the promise of providing a solution for the cleaning of the Yamuna as also proper utilisation of the sewage water generated in Delhi, the Union Urban Development Ministry is contemplating using the treated water for watering all the greens, including the Ridge, that are maintained by the Delhi Development Authority.

The proposal has been floated by Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken after consultations with DDA officials, who also believe that the treated water would help in improving the greenery, recharging the ground water levels and lowering the temperature of the greens where it is used.

The development comes at a time when the Centre for Science and Environment has done a study on how it is essential to treat all the sewage water and utilise it effectively so that it does not flow into the Yamuna.

According to Sunita Narain of CSE, the key finding of the study aimed at cleaning the Yamuna was that no untreated water should be allowed to reach the river. "We have come to the conclusion that if treated water is put back into the drains then it mixes with untreated sewage and goes on to pollute the river."

As only 50 per cent of Delhi is connected to the sewage system and all the untreated sewage directly flows into the river, the CSE has stated that it is essential to treat the sewage and re-use it. "It should either be put back into the ground or used for agriculture and greens."

Since treatment of sewage would take care of most of the water content, it would only leave solid waste in the rivers. As the removal of sludge is comparatively easier, more so when it dries up into solid waste, the approach would result in zero flow of sewage into the river as has been directed by the courts.

Ms. Narain said the net impact of use of 17 sewage treatment plants thus far has been that the river continues to remain highly polluted. But the new concept of reusing treated water can really work. "Singapore even uses 1 per cent of this water for drinking after bringing the biological oxygen demand down to zero mg per litre. While 3 mg makes the water good enough for bathing, 30 mg is the level required for making it good for use in greens," she said.

As for the proposal to use the water in the Ridge and other greens , Ms. Narain said it was a good idea as it would also provide a proper use for the treated sewage water and prevent pollution of the Yamuna by untreated sewage.

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