60% of sewage remains untreated in Delhi

 Around 2,225 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated water is either seeping into the ground or being discharged into Yamuna every day as only 40% of sewage is treated in 18 treatment plants in Delhi, an RTI reply reveals.

According to an RTI, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) carried out monitoring for performance Evaluation of Sewage Treatment Plant located in Delhi. As per the study conducted by CPCB, city generates 3,800 MLD of waste water per day whereas the present installed treatment capacity is 2,603.7 MLD and the actual utilisation is only 1,575.8 MLD.

"It is so shocking that the city is not equipped to treat entire sewage generated by the city. The current infrastructure can only process 69% of sewage. But due to negligence of government only 40% of waste water is getting treated. Government is spending crores on setting up STPs but they massively underutilised," said Subodh Jain, RTI applicant and Delhi-based lawyer. The RTI reply revealed that sewage treatment plants (STPs) are insufficient and highly underutilised.

Out of 18 operation STPs in Delhi only three treatment plants are working at its full capacity. "Only STPs at Chilla, Delhi gate and Dr Sen nursing home are working at their full capacity of 40.5 MLD, 9.9 MLD and 9.9 MLD respectively. But 22.5 MLD treatment plant at Ghitorni is unused with zero output," CPCB said in its reply. The RTI reply highlights that other STPs are working 20-30% below their capacity. Keshopur treatment plant with a capacity of 504 MLD is only processing 307 MLD.

Similarly treatment plant at Kondli has a capacity of 315 MLD but is utlising only 137 MLD of waste water. Environmentalists claim that by not treating sewage, DJB is not only making resident of the city vulnerable of several diseases but are also killing Yamuna. "Majority of untreated water goes in Yamuna and further pollutes the river. Some of the grey water also seeps into the ground through drains. Untreated sewage is potential threat to society, fresh water and Yamuna," Manoj Misra, convener, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said.

"Major component of waste water is Coliform bacteria which can cause several diseases if it is mixed with drinking water. Other pollutant includes heavy metal and nitrogen. Pollutants also takes oxygen level of water to zero...," Mishra said. He said the treated water at STPs can be used to replace the usage of fresh water. "At present we are wasting fresh water for such work where treated water can be used. Sewage treated at STPs are best for irrigation, cleaning and industrial use," Mishra said.