Delhi all set to get the best and the biggest sewage treatment plant

The national Capital could soon get not only India's biggest sewage treatment plant (STP) but also the best in quality. Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Chairperson, Kapil Mishra, on Monday, announced the agency's plans to set up an STP in the Coronation Pillar area of Burari, north Delhi, with a capacity of 378 Million Litres Per Day (MLD) or 70 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD).

WHAT IS HAPPENING

This would utilise the sludge coming from Delhi's supplementary drain which caters to a large part of Delhi - north and west, including Narela, Bawana, Kanjhawala, Rithala and Rohini. This includes both industries and households. Currently, the Bharwara STP in Lucknow (UP) with a capacity of 345 MLD is said to be the country's and, in fact, Asia's largest.

There are three major drains in Delhi - Najafgarh, supplementary and Shahdara - all of which pour their foul content into river Yamuna, polluting it further. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) considered remedial measures for these three at length in its landmark judgement 'Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna Project 2017.'

GOOD NEWS AHEAD

Kapil Mishra said the proposed STP would also produce best quality treated water in India. It would have BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids) values of 10 each. It would cleanse the sewage of Ammonia, which originates from alcohol distilleries, and Phosphates, which are produced by detergents. The residual sludge from the STP would be used for electricity generation. "It would also be the cheapest STP of its kind in India, to be built at a cost of only Rs. 515 crores in 2.5 years from now. This is a landmark decision taken at the DJB's 128th Board meeting," Mishra said.

Water expert Nitya Jacob said, "BOD indicates the amount of dissolved oxygen in a river, essential for its purity and aqua life. As per Central Pollution Control Board standards, a BOD value of 3 is essential for it to be fit for bathing. BOD 10 value treated water can easily be used in industries such as iron casting (foundry), electroplating, auto ancillaries. These are rampant in areas like Shahadra and Wazirabad." ALSO READ

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