Delhi Pays for Clean Yamuna Water

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has introduced a groundbreaking performance-linked payment system for private firms operating in-situ sewage treatment plants (STPs) within Delhi's drains. Announced on Thursday, this new framework directly links payments to the quality of treated wastewater discharged into the Yamuna River. Operators will receive full payment only if the treated water achieves biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) levels below 10 mg/L.

Payments will be reduced if water quality deteriorates, with 85% allocated if BOD and TSS reach 15 mg/L and 30 mg/L respectively, and 70% if parameters rise to 20 mg/L and 50 mg/L. No payment will be issued if the treated water fails to meet these stipulated thresholds. "There will be no upfront payments," stated water minister Parvesh Verma, emphasizing that "the extent of treatment will determine payment." Fully digital monitoring will be facilitated by online meters installed at the inlet and outlet, generating data every five minutes.

This strategic move is a crucial component of the Delhi government's comprehensive Yamuna rejuvenation plan. Alongside constructing new STPs over the next two-and-a-half to three years, the government is prioritizing in-situ treatment. This method treats wastewater directly within drains before it enters the river, addressing a significant source of pollution. Current reports from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have consistently shown that many of Delhi's 37 operating STPs fail to meet the Central Pollution Control Board's mandated BOD:TSS criteria of 10:10 mg/L.

The DJB recently awarded a contract for in-situ treatment of the Delhi Gate drain, one of the Capital's largest. This decision arrives amidst ongoing concerns regarding the efficacy of Delhi's drain treatment programs. Previous assessments revealed that none of the 22 drains discharging into the Yamuna met the prescribed BOD standard of 30 mg/L, with some drains recording alarmingly high BOD levels.