Interceptor sewer project to be inaugurated on Monday

A big step towards cleaning the Yamuna in the Capital is being taken this week, with the Delhi Jal Board getting ready to launch the first package of the ambitious interceptor sewer project on Monday.

Trial runs on the first package of the 59-km-long interceptor started in September. “The trials have been a success, but it is a hugely challenging project as we are laying a 59 km trunk sewer in a populated city,” said DJB CEO Vijay Kumar on Saturday.

The first package, which will be inaugurated by Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, takes sewage from the Palam drain in Dwarka to the Pappankalan Sewage Treatment Plant.

“Right now, we have added about six to10 MGD to our sewage treatment by the first package. Overall, 210 MGD of sewage will be diverted for treatment when the project is complete in June next year,” said Mr. Kumar.

The six packages of the interceptor are along the city’s major drains – Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdara – and will collect sewage from around 180 subsidiary drains. While the project is tricky, Mr. Kumar said everything is going as per plan.

Come next summer, pollution in the Yamuna is expected to fall with the biological oxygen demand (BOD) decreasing by 60 to 70 per cent. Water quality (in BOD) in the Yamuna will fall from 41 mg/l to 12 mg/l.