Towards a clean Yamuna (The Hindu 23 December 2011)

Chief Minister opens work on interceptor sewers in Nangloi
Delhi's dream of a clean Yamuna got a step closer to realisation on Thursday when work for laying interceptor sewers was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at Nihal Vihar under the Nangloi segment of the Delhi Assembly.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit described it “as a historic moment” which will go a long way in reviving the glory of the Yamuna. Referring to the interceptor sewer proposal, she said the work has been finalised in consultation with the Planning Commission and Engineers India Limited has been appointed as project management consultant for implementation of the project which will cost Rs.1,978 crore.
The cost includes 11 years operations and maintenance of the entire system of interceptor sewer apart from the capital cost.
Work on the sewers will begin on Friday and is expected to be complete by 2014. Ms. Diskhit, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board that has been mandated to carry out the work, said with the interceptors in place, the river will become pollution-free within the next couple of years and its quality will improve from 41 ppm to 12 ppm.
She said the quality will further improve downstream and the treated effluent will be utilised for non potable purposes, and sewage from areas with no sewer connections will be trapped and prevented form entering the Yamuna.
Pointing out that dumping solid waste and garbage, entry of untreated waste water, addition of industrial effluent, litter, plastic and polythene add to the pollution in the river, Ms. Dikshit exhorted all stake-holders to work in tandem and ensure completion of their responsibilities assigned under the interceptor sewer project.
The MCD is supposed to prevent dumping of garbage in drains and the river besides desilting and fencing of drains, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has been assigned to de-silt and channelise drains, the DDA has also been asked to ensure that the riverbank is free of squatters and the DSIIDC will have to ensure the treatment of all industrial effluent through its CETPs before discharge, while the Delhi Pollution Control Committee is supposed to monitor various water quality parameters in the river, the Chief Minister pointed out.
She said the new sewer treatment plants will be put up after the existing capacity of STPs is fully utilised. The work has been awarded to three different agencies for completing it in a time-bound manner.
Sewers of 59 km length, 20 to 60 feet depth and sizes ranging from 24 mm to 600 mm diameter will be laid along the three major drains to intercept sewage flowing from subsidiary small drains and convey it to the nearest STP to ensure that only treated sewage is discharged.