Delhi govt forms panel to audit sewage treatment, pumping stns

With an aim to improve the water quality in the national capital, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra today announced audit of all sewage treatment plants (STPs) and sewage pumping stations (SPSs) in the city, besides evaluation of drains following into Yamuna.
Mishra has formed a four-member expert panel comprising Delhi Jal Board Chief Engineer, Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, Personal Secretary to DJB's Chairman, and Manu Bhatnagar from INTACH.
The panel has been asked conduct a comprehensive study and submit recommendations within a month, and thereafter the DJB will implement them.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Water Minister.

"The Delhi government will publish status paper on SPSs and STPs performance by the four-member committee of water experts and technologists within a month. The DJB will also install emission and quality monitoring systems at these STPs and SPSs to tackle water quality and health-related issues," said a senior government official.
The DJB has also decided to publish data on all STPs and SPSs online by September 13 to make accessible information on the water being treated at these plants.

The official claimed that this is for the first time any state government has ordered a detailed study of all STPs and SPSs to improve water quality.

He said the DJB will prepare septage and sludge management plan for the city in collaboration with IIT Delhi.
"The DJB has been asked to immediately evaluate criticality index of all drains flowing into Yamuna to assess future steps to clean Yamuna's drain through a comprehensive study," he said
"The DJB will also conduct massive sewage infrastructure audit which will ensure a comprehensive review of all drains and pipelines for assessing future robustness and adequacy of water and drainage network for the city," official said.
The DJB has also decided to create a rewards scheme for staff below the rank of Executive Engineers at STPs to incentivize high performance within the organisation.