The Delhi Jal Board's planned budget has been significantly increased for the year 2012-13. On Wednesday at a meeting of the water utility's Board chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, a budget of Rs.3,780.91 crore was approved.
While Rs.1984.74 crore has been earmarked for Plan works, Rs.1,796.17 crore has been allocated for the non-Plan works for 2012-13.
The Board has also approved the construction of a 136 MLD (million litres a day) sewage treatment plant at Okhla that will provide water for non-potable uses to several agencies like the Delhi Metro and the Delhi Transport Corporation. The work of construction of this plant is likely to begin in a month. Approval for the plant had been pending for some time now on account of outstanding issues over the tendering process.
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Sanction to begin work on the construction of a 15-MGD sewage treatment plant at the Delhi Gate Nullah has also been provided. To be built using the latest technical know-how this plant will be constructed on design, build on operation basis at a total cost of Rs.203.70 crore and the project is likely to be completed in approximately two years.
DJB chief executive officer Ramesh Negi said the water production in the city is expected to increase to 900-MGD from the current 835 MGD with the commissioning of the Chandrawal Recycling Plant, the Dwarka Plant and the Okhla WTP, which will receive raw water from the expected savings to be achieved after the commissioning of the Munak Canal.
Sewage Treatment Capacity, which is presently 514.4 MGD, is expected to increase to 614.4 MGD, Mr. Negi said, adding that the increase of sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity by 100 MGD will be brought about by the commissioning of the New Okhla STP (30 MGD), Yamuna Vihar STP (25 MGD) and the Kondli STP (45 MGD).
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For ensuring equitable water supply, 53 under ground reservoirs are being planned, of which 34 have been commissioned. The CEO went on to say that the DJB has made efforts to provide piped water supply in 1,005 unauthorised colonies and water lines have been laid in 783 such colonies. Work in 45 unauthorised colonies is under progress, he said. The proposal to provide piped water supply in 32 unauthorised colonies is in the tendering process and in 145 unauthorised colonies the proposals are in the estimate process stage, he pointed out.
To reduce pollution in the Yamuna, the Board has approved the Rs.66.43 crore, an 8-MGD capacity STP and sewage pumping station at Delhi Cantonment on design, build, operation and transfer basis. The project is likely to be completed in two years.
To bridge the gap between the installed capacity for sewage treatment and the actual treatment that is being carried out, the DJB is creating additional treatment capacity at the existing sewage treatment plants the CEO informed.
“Owing to silting and settlement of trunk sewers, treatment capacity of only 1,570 MLD is presently in use. A number of projects for the rehabilitation of trunk sewers are being implemented to enhance the utilisation of available sewage treatment capacity. Sewage generation in Delhi is estimated at 3,400-MLD for the year 2012 against which the present installed treatment capacity is 2,325 MLD leaving a gap of about 1,075 MLD in treatment capacity,” Mr. Negi said.
The Board on Wednesday also gave its approval to carry out the work of construction of the 16.50 million litre capacity under ground reservoir and booster pumping station at Karala.
The source of water for this UGR will be the 20 MGD water treatment plant at Bawana, which is likely to be commissioned in the future. The UGR will benefit over 5.36 lakh consumers in Chatesar, Garhi Rindhala, Gheora, Jonti, Kanjhawala, Kanjhawala extended lal dora, and Sauda Villages among others.