New Delhi, May 24(HS): The Government of Delhi has approved a series of ambitious infrastructure projects worth more than ₹1,000 crore aimed at strengthening water management, sewage treatment, and water supply systems across the national capital, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Sunday.

According to information released by the Chief Minister’s Office, approval has been granted for the installation of 12 new decentralized sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) in the Najafgarh region. The projects, estimated to cost around ₹860 crore, will have a combined treatment capacity of 46.5 million gallons per day (MGD) and will be developed under the Central Government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

Among the proposed facilities, a 17 MGD-capacity DSTP will be constructed at Mitraon. Additional plants will be established in Kair, Kanganheri, Kakrola, and Dichaon Kalan, while separate DSTPs will also be developed in Galibpur, Sarangpur, Shikarpur, Hasanpur, Jaffarpur, Kazipur, and Khera Dabar.

The projects are expected to benefit more than 121 unauthorized colonies, 35 villages, and nearly 700,000 residents. The initiative will also help prevent untreated sewage from flowing into the Najafgarh Drain, thereby contributing significantly to the cleaning of the Yamuna River and broader environmental conservation efforts.

The Chief Minister further stated that the first phase of the Keshopur Sewage Treatment Plant will undergo modernization and capacity expansion. Under the project, the plant’s treatment capacity will be increased from 12 MGD to 18 MGD. The ₹122-crore project aims to upgrade the quality of treated water in accordance with the latest environmental standards.

She added that the project also includes provisions for operations and maintenance (O&M) for a period of 11 years. The upgraded facility is expected to encourage the use of recycled water and strengthen long-term water conservation efforts in the city.

Emphasizing the need to improve groundwater levels and enhance water security, the Chief Minister announced that the government has decided to promote rainwater harvesting across Delhi. Under the initiative, the Delhi Jal Board will undertake the construction of new rainwater harvesting systems and restore existing structures on behalf of various government departments.

To ensure the effective implementation of the programme, the government will appoint four groundwater experts and ten rainwater harvesting social mobilizers.

The Chief Minister also announced that a major trunk sewer line in the Trilokpuri Assembly constituency will be rehabilitated at an estimated cost of nearly ₹57 crore. The project will cover the stretch from Amichand Chowk to the old Kalyanpuri Sewage Pumping Station. The sewer line, which is more than 40 years old, has witnessed repeated subsidence and technical failures in recent years. Upon completion, the new infrastructure is expected to make the area’s sewerage system safer, more reliable, and more efficient.

Additionally, a new underground reservoir (UGR) with a capacity of 0.72 MGD and a booster pumping station will be established in Rohtas Nagar in the Shahdara Assembly constituency. The project, estimated to cost approximately ₹27 crore, is aimed at strengthening the local water supply network.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar