In its ongoing efforts to keep pollution away from the Yamuna river, the government has okayed a major interceptor sewer project for the city under JNNURM.
The Rs 1,358 crore project, largest ever under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for Delhi, aims to trap untreated water at Najafgarh and Shahdara drains.
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 polluting heavily the riverine system.
Once the interceptor is commissioned, the flow of untreated water into the Yamuna would be curbed to a great extent, a senior Urban Development Ministry official said.
The ministry is responsible for releasing JNNURM funds to different states and Union Territories.
The project would be implemented by the Delhi Jal Board.
The Expenditure Finance Committee has already approved the project and now it would be put before the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure for the final approval.
Though there are about 27 projects under JNNURM being implemented in the capital, the interceptor project is the biggest one so far, said the official.
Besides construction of many flyovers and drainage system in the city, redevelopment of Connaught Place and traffic management plan for civic centre at Minto road are also being undertaken under JNNURM.
