Delhi Jal Board Urges Expansion of Sewage Treatment Capacity to Combat Pollution
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has highlighted the urgent need to expand the city's sewage treatment capacity to meet rising demand and prevent untreated wastewater discharge into rivers.
Photo by Patrick Federi
Quick Revision
Delhi's current sewage treatment capacity is around 70% of wastewater generated
DJB aims to increase capacity by 174 MGD by December 2027
Untreated sewage discharged into Yamuna River
Existing capacity is 1792.04 MGD, against a requirement of 2560 MGD
Phase I of the project involves 10 STPs with 243 MGD capacity
Phase II involves 10 STPs with 263 MGD capacity
Key Dates
Key Numbers
Exam Angles
Environmental pollution and its impact on public health and ecosystems.
Urban infrastructure development and challenges in mega-cities.
Government policies and schemes for river conservation and pollution abatement (e.g., Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat Mission).
Role of regulatory bodies (CPCB, DPCC, NGT) in environmental governance.
Sustainable development goals (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Technological solutions for wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
View Detailed Summary
Summary
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has emphasized the critical need for Delhi to significantly expand its sewage treatment capacity. Currently, the city can treat about 70% of its wastewater, but with rapid urbanization and population growth, the existing infrastructure is insufficient. This leads to a substantial amount of untreated sewage being discharged into the Yamuna and other water bodies, causing severe pollution.
The DJB plans to increase capacity by 174 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) by December 2027, which includes upgrading existing plants and building new ones. This initiative is crucial for improving public health, environmental quality, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, particularly concerning river rejuvenation efforts.
Background
Latest Developments
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) currently manages sewage treatment for approximately 70% of the city's wastewater. However, this capacity is insufficient for the growing population and increasing wastewater generation.
The DJB's new initiative aims to expand this capacity by 174 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) by December 2027 through upgrading existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and constructing new ones. This expansion is critical for improving public health, environmental quality, and achieving compliance with environmental regulations, especially in the context of broader river rejuvenation efforts like the Namami Gange Programme.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding urban wastewater management in India: 1. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) currently treats approximately 70% of Delhi's wastewater, with plans to significantly increase capacity by 2027. 2. The discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies is primarily regulated under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 3. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a key indicator used to measure the amount of organic pollution in water bodies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is correct as per the news article, stating DJB treats about 70% and plans to increase capacity. Statement 2 is correct; the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, is the primary legislation for preventing and controlling water pollution, including regulating the discharge of effluents. Statement 3 is correct; BOD is a widely used parameter to assess the organic pollution load in water, indicating the amount of dissolved oxygen required by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material present in a given water sample.
2. In the context of river rejuvenation and pollution abatement in India, which of the following statements is NOT correct?
- A.The Namami Gange Programme focuses on comprehensive river basin management, including sewage infrastructure development.
- B.The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) was launched as a central scheme to implement pollution abatement works in various rivers.
- C.The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organization responsible for setting national standards for effluent discharge.
- D.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) primarily functions as an appellate body for decisions made by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statements A, B, and C are correct. Namami Gange is a comprehensive program for Ganga rejuvenation. NRCP is a precursor scheme for river pollution abatement. CPCB is indeed a statutory body under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, responsible for setting standards. Statement D is incorrect. While NGT does hear appeals against certain environmental decisions, its primary function is to provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources, including enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and providing relief and compensation for damages to persons and property. It is not solely an appellate body for CPCB decisions but has original jurisdiction as well.
3. Consider the following pairs: River Pollution Indicator Associated Impact 1. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): Depletion of dissolved oxygen 2. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): Presence of non-biodegradable pollutants 3. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Increased salinity and hardness Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All three pairs are correctly matched. BOD measures the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter, thus high BOD indicates depletion of dissolved oxygen. COD measures the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter in a water sample that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant, indicating both biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants. TDS refers to the total concentration of dissolved substances in water, which can include minerals, salts, and organic matter, leading to increased salinity and hardness.