Amit Shah inaugurates Rs 8,941 crore water infrastructure projects to clean Yamuna

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 43 water and sewage infrastructure projects worth Rs 8,941 crore in the national capital. The initiatives, executed by the Delhi Jal Board, aim to upgrade wastewater treatment capacity and halt the flow of untreated sewage into the Yamuna river.

The projects were launched from the Najafgarh area, marking a coordinated effort between the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at the event, Mr Shah stated that the current administration is committed to cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna by May 2029. He also criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging they made excuses instead of addressing the river's pollution.

The comprehensive package includes a new 124 million gallons per day (MGD) sewage treatment plant (STP) at Okhla and the upgrading of eight existing STPs, increasing their combined capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD. According to details shared by Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma, these upgrades will benefit approximately 78.5 lakh people. Additionally, 29 decentralised sewage treatment plants and pumping stations will be constructed to cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, serving 36.29 lakh residents.

As reported by NDTV, the infrastructure package also features a 1,034-km new sewer network, a 4.5-km Mundka trunk drain, and a 477 MLD water treatment plant at Chandrawal. The Chandrawal facility will replace older plants built in 1935 and 1955, serving 22 lakh people. Of the total outlay, 10 projects worth Rs 2,827 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 33 projects valued at Rs 6,114 crore.

The heavy allocation towards subterranean infrastructure highlights a strategic shift from surface-level beautification to source-level intervention. Mr Verma noted that while cleaning ghats demonstrates intent, stopping sewage at the source is the permanent solution. Once completed over the next two to two-and-a-half years, the network is expected to ensure that no untreated wastewater from Delhi enters the river's drains. This approach utilises decentralised plants to bypass space constraints that hinder large-scale facilities.

To foster public engagement, the Delhi government announced a 'Birthday with Yamuna' initiative, encouraging residents to celebrate on the riverbanks. This follows a recent mass cleanup drive where over 35,000 participants removed more than 76,000 kg of waste from 70 locations along the river.