New Delhi: Delhi Government on Tuesday gave its
go-ahead to a Rs 1,358 crore project to build interceptor
channels on the bank of Yamuna to prevent flow of polluted
water into the river.
The centrally-sponsored project, largest ever under
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for
Delhi, aims to trap untreated water at Najafgarh and Shahdara
and other drains.
The decision to approve the project was taken at a
Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit. Officials said the Cabinet Committee on
Infrastructure of the Union Government had already given its
approval for the project.
Dikshit said all aspects of Yamuna Interceptor Sewer
Project were considered by the Cabinet and it was decided to
implement the project to contain pollution in the river.
The interceptor will be treating 1,320 million litres
per day before releasing the water into the drains which flow
into the Yamuna.
Since there are many drains connected to Najafgarh and
Shahdara drains which are directly flowing into the Yamuna,
the continuous flow of untreated water was heavily polluting
the riverine system.
The project has already received all required clearances
including environment nod.
The officials said interceptors will be laid along three
major drains -- Najafgarh, supplementary and Shahdara, which
accounts for about 70 per cent of total pollution load due to
discharge in river Yamuna.
All field investigations, detailed feasibility report,
detailed project report and land allotment by DDA have been
completed.
Out of the total project cost of Rs 1357 crore, Rs 475
crore will be given by Ministry of Urban Development under
JNNURM while remaining amount will have to be contributed by
the Delhi Government.
Officials said HUDCO has in principle sanctioned a loan
of Rs 800 crore to Delhi Government to implement the project.
The project, once completed, will go a long way in
improvement of water quality, Dikshit said adding that "clean
Yamuna is not a distant dream now."
PTI
