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Delhi's Yamuna Blues: Untreated Industrial Discharge Persists
29 Nov
Summary
- Six of Delhi's 13 common effluent treatment plants fail EPA standards.
- Several industrial areas lack treatment plants, discharging waste directly.
- Over ₹19 crore in environmental compensation has been imposed but is challenged.
Delhi's ongoing efforts to modernize its sewage treatment plants for the Yamuna River are being undermined by the persistent issue of untreated industrial discharge. The latest report from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) reveals that six out of thirteen operational common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) are failing to meet crucial Environmental Protection Agency standards for key pollutants.
Specifically, CETPs in Badli, Lawrence Road, and GTK Road exceeded permissible biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels, while those in SMA Industrial Area, Narela, and Okhla failed to meet sulphide standards. Compounding this, eleven industrial areas within the city lack any CETP infrastructure, leading to direct discharge of untreated waste into waterways that feed the Yamuna. The existing 13 CETPs are also operating at less than half their total capacity.
In response to these violations, the DPCC has imposed environmental compensation amounting to ₹19.10 crore on several CETP societies and operators. However, many of these penalties are currently under legal challenge in court. This situation highlights a critical gap in environmental management, as industrial pollution continues to severely impact the Yamuna River's health.
