200 machines to clean sewers in narrow lanes

New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board in its 14th meeting of the board approved a 90 per cent rebate on the sewer charges of the consumers who use their own decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) for water recycling.

In a bid to avoid unfortunate incidents involving safai karamcharis, the board also approved deployment of 200 specially fabricated tailor- made sewer cleaning machines for cleaning of sewer lines in narrow streets or lanes in Delhi. “The aim is to eliminate the practice of the manual cleaning of the sewer line so that the silt/sludge in the main hole is not handled physically by the labour,” it added.

Emphasising that one of the major sources of ground water depletion is its extraction and use for horticulture purpose, the meeting approved to set-up decentralised sewer treatment plants (STPs) in all the parks across the national capital, disallowing the authorities to use groundwater.

“All major parks and green belt areas whether with Delhi Govt./DDA/MCD etc. would not be allowed to use ground water anymore and instead they would make arrangement for decentralised water waste treatment system (DWWTS) near to the feeding point provided by DJB, from where they would lift raw sewerage from the sewer line, treat it and use for their horticulture needs,” a DJB stateent said. The meeting, chaired by chief minister and DJB chairperson Arvind Kejriwal also approved to conduct a study on the 456 MGD of water treated water produced by the national Capital. “Delhi generates 456 MGD water from its STPs every day. However, only 89 MGD of the treated water is used and the rest goes in drain. The board approved appointment of a consultant to study and submit a report on the use of the rest 367 MGD water generated. The total amount of treated water will go up to 516 MGD by the end of 2018,” it added. The board has also appointed a consultant for revival and rejuvenation of 12 water bodies, in a bid to recharge groundwater levels, improve ecology and create a green public space. “Ground water can later be extracted to augment supply in the local area,” it added.