President's Estate to use treated sewage water to develop

President Pranab Mukherjee today inaugurated the first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in the President's Estate which will nurture a wetland for flora and fauna by recycling nearly 12 lakh litre of sewage generated daily in the historic mansion.
The plant has been built in a record time of nearly one year and three months, Press Secretary to the President Venu Rajamony said here in a statement.
He said the STP is in fulfilment of recommendations of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan prepared by INTACH.
"The President's Estate has over 190.5 acres of greenery, including the famous Mughal Gardens. There is, however, an acute shortage of water for horticulture purposes especially during the summer season which has led to degradation of the green cover and also resulted in the permanent loss of some variety of flora," Rajamony said.

He said the non-availability of adequate water was also adversely affecting the fauna which depends on the eco-system around the forest area and green cover in the President's Estate.
Rajamony said the plant has a capacity of 20 lakh litres per day adding that the total water supply to the President's Estate from NDMC and other sources is in the range of 16-18 lakh litres per day out of which 80 per cent becomes sewage.

"This sewage and additional quantity tapped from North Avenue and South Avenue Network System will be treated and utilised for horticulture purposes in the Estate. The project includes a wetland which has been innovatively designed and planted with various species of trees, shrubs etc," he said.

Rajamony said this wetland will support the flora and fauna in the region.
"The capacity of the existing Dalikhana Lake which serves as the collection point of treated water has been increased three times from its earlier capacity and is now a water body of five million litres. This would serve in addition as a habitat for water birds in Northern Ridge area which lacks such water bodies," he said.
He said 18,000 fingerlings have also been added to the Dalikhana Lake.
"IIT-Delhi was the technical consultant for the plant. Construction, operations and maintenance has been by L and T. The STP is based on the Extended Aeration System with Anoxic Zone for De-nitrification and sub-Surface Constructed Wetland (SSCW) with UV Disinfection Unit," he said.