NEW DELHI — The capital is preparing for the inauguration of its largest sewage treatment facility in Okhla on September 30. With a capacity of 124 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), the plant is set to be the largest of its kind in all of Asia and a major step in the ongoing mission to clean the Yamuna river.
Massive Scale and Critical Environmental Role
The \text{Rs } 1,161 \text{ crore} facility, built on 40 acres, will serve nearly 40 lakh residents across central, south, and old Delhi, including areas like Civil Lines, Green Park, and the Walled City. Officials from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) confirmed that the plant will be the single largest contributor to the city’s sewage treatment capacity.
Crucially, the facility is expected to play a significant role in reducing the volume of untreated sewage currently flowing directly into the Yamuna river, a central goal of the project. The new plant replaces four smaller treatment facilities that previously functioned at the location.
International Partnership and Grand Inauguration
The project was executed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in partnership with the Centre under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). It was financed with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The inauguration is planned as a major event, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah likely to attend as the chief guest, alongside Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Verma. Dignitaries from Japan are also expected to join the ceremony.
Construction for the facility began in 2019 but was delayed several times due to factors like the COVID-19 lockdown and construction bans, before the plant was completed and placed on a trial run in April this year. The facility also features provisions for power generation from treated waste and will produce ‘A-class sludge’, which is deemed safe for reuse.