Delhi's Sewage Solution: 98% Complete in Sonia Vihar

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is close to finishing construction of a new 7 million gallons per day (MGD) sewage treatment plant (STP) at Sonia Vihar, with 98% of the work completed, officials announced Tuesday. The plant is designed to intercept and treat wastewater from the Sonia Vihar drain, which currently carries untreated sewage from unauthorized colonies in areas such as Sonia Vihar, Karawal Nagar, and Khazoori Khas.

This STP is part of DJB’s broader strategy to address the city's sewage treatment shortfall. Delhi generates around 792 MGD of sewage, but the existing 37 STPs can only treat about 610 MGD, resulting in a large volume of untreated waste flowing into the Yamuna River.

To close this gap, DJB is building new treatment plants and upgrading 18 of its existing STPs that fall short of environmental standards. The new plants at Sonia Vihar and Delhi Gate are expected to add a combined 47 MGD of treatment capacity.

Additionally, a wastewater pumping station is being constructed in Rajiv Nagar to aid sewage collection and transport. The first budget of the new BJP government allocated ₹9,000 crore for the water and sewerage sector, with ₹500 crore earmarked specifically for STP repairs and upgrades.

In a further push for accountability, Water Minister Parvesh Verma ordered a third-party audit of all 37 STPs in April. The Sonia Vihar STP is seen as a key step in DJB’s efforts to improve sewage infrastructure and reduce pollution in the Yamuna River.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.