New Delhi, October 22 (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday described the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremony for projects worth Rs 8,941 crore aimed at reviving the Yamuna as a significant milestone for the national capital. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had placed the river’s rejuvenation among the government’s key priorities and that the Delhi government was working with a scientific approach and a well-planned action strategy to fulfil this commitment.

Expressing gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the people of Delhi, the Chief Minister said his continued guidance and support in addressing the capital’s problems had provided fresh impetus to the government’s efforts. She expressed confidence that the Prime Minister’s leadership and the Union Home Minister’s guidance would accelerate Delhi’s development.

CM Gupta said that during its nearly one-and-a-half-year tenure, the Delhi government had paid particular attention to expanding the sewerage network and increasing sewage treatment capacity. Work has been awarded for 29 decentralised sewage treatment plant (STP) projects at an estimated cost of around Rs 3,000 crore, with a combined proposed treatment capacity of 170 million gallons per day (MGD).

In addition, projects to upgrade existing STPs are being undertaken at a cost of approximately Rs 2,000 crore. The Chief Minister said sewer connections had been provided to households serving around 128,000 people across 54 unauthorised colonies. Work on laying sewerage networks had also progressed in 276 colonies. Furthermore, approximately 93 kilometres of trunk sewer lines had been desilted and cleaned over the past year.

The Chief Minister also highlighted developments in the water treatment sector, stating that a water treatment plant with a capacity of 50 MGD was operational in Dwarka. She referred to the 105-MGD plant at Chandrawal and the two-MGD recycling plant at Bawana.

To strengthen the city’s water supply infrastructure, construction of underground reservoirs (UGRs) had been completed at Bijwasan, Palla, Siraspur and Rajokri. Projects related to underground reservoirs in several other areas, including Sangam Vihar, Tughlakabad, Shahdara, Chanakya Place and Janakpuri, had also progressed following approval, she said.

CM Gupta reiterated that the Delhi government was committed to completing these projects within the stipulated timelines. She said the initiatives would improve water supply and sewerage facilities across the capital while accelerating efforts to achieve the broader objective of rejuvenating the Yamuna.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar